J-K: Fresh ceasefire violation by Pakistan forces in Poonch

Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire once again by targetting several Indian posts along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district late on Sunday, officials said on Monday.

Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire once again by targetting several Indian posts along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district late on Sunday, officials said on Monday.

"Pakistani troops resorted to small arms firing on several posts along the Line of Control in Poonch district at 2245 hours last night," an Indian Army spokesperson said.

"Our troops retaliated, resulting in exchange of fire that continued till 2330 hours. There was no report of loss of life or injury from the Indian side," he added.

Days after the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Russia's Ufa, tension between the countries has escalated with both sides blaming each other for repeated ceasefire violations and heavy firing along the border.

The recent escalation in border violence has claimed a life in Jammu and injured at least 16 people while Pakistan has said five of its civilians have also been killed. Five civilians were injured last Saturday when Pakistani troops targeted several Indian positions in Naushera sector of Rajouri district and the two villages in Poonch sector.

Sunday's firing is the seventh incident of ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops since July 15 and there have been 11 ceasefire violations by the Pakistan army in July.

Indian and Pakistani troops also skipped the traditional exchange of sweets at border outposts on Eid for a second year in a row on Saturday against the backdrop of heightened tension between the two countries.

The Border Security Force (BSF) had said the decision was taken at a company commanders' meeting at Wagah on Friday as Pakistan Rangers were non-committal denying reports that Pakistan had refused India's gesture of offering sweets,

Traditionally, the BSF and Pakistan Rangers mark special occasions such as Eid, Diwali and Republic Day with a customary exchange of sweets at the border outposts of Wagah, Hussainiwala and Sadqi in Punjab as well as Suchetgarh in Jammu.

India has not slammed the door on bilateral talks, saying it is committed to the agreement between PM Modi and Sharif to resume dialogue but has warned Pakistan of a "forceful and effective response" as it protested ceasefire violations along the LoC and international border.

Islamabad, in turn, summoned Indian high commissioner TCA Raghavan on Thursday to protest what it termed "airspace violations and unabated ceasefire provocations", a day after it claimed to have shot down an 'Indian' drone. New Delhi denied the charge.

"We remain committed to steps that ensure peace and tranquility along our border. However, there should be no doubt that any unprovoked firing from the Pakistani side would meet with an effective and forceful response from our forces," foreign secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar told reporters on Thursday.

Pakistan's foreign office too clarified that it remained committed to the joint statement issued by India and Pakistan under which the NSAs of the two sides will meet soon.

(With agency inputs)