No sweets to Pak troops on Diwali; firing continues

In the wake of repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the LoC, the BSF has not offered sweets to the Pakistan Rangers here Thursday on the occasion of Diwali festival.

In the wake of repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the LoC, the BSF has not offered sweets to the Pakistan Rangers here Thursday on the occasion of Diwali festival.

"In the light of present scenario with Pakistan, this time India has decided not to offer sweets to Pakistan on the eve of Diwali festival," BSF IG, Punjab Frontier, Ashok Kumar said.

There were repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan along LoC as well as International Border in Jammu and Kashmir recently, he said, adding, therefore, offering of sweets to Pakistani counterparts was "totally out of question".

The step came even as Pakistan Rangers fired at Indian positions the Arnia sector on the international border in Jammu sparking intermittent exchange of gunfire on Thursday. Two people had been injured in firing by Pakistani troops in the sector the previous day.

The latest ceasefire violation came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew to Jammu and Kashmir to express solidarity with the flood-affected people and to meet Indian soldiers at the Siachen Glacier.

The message that India would not offer them sweets was already conveyed to Pakistan during the flag meeting at Indo-Pak Attari border last evening, IG Ashok Kumar said.The Pakistani side too had not offered sweets on the eve of Eid this year, due to tensions at the border.

India and Pakistan, for the past long time, on reciprocal basis, were following the custom of offering of sweets on various occasions like their Independence Day, besides on the occasion of festivals.