Pakistani troops violate truce along LoC in Balakote

Pakistan violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir by resorting to firing in Balakote area on Wednesday morning, just days after senior security officials of the two sides discussed steps to maintain calm on the frontier.

Pakistan violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir by resorting to firing in Balakote area on Wednesday morning, just days after senior security officials of the two sides discussed steps to maintain calm on the frontier.

An army spokesperson said Pakistani troops fired without provocation for about an hour on Tuesday night and resumed firing on Wednesday morning in Balakote area of Poonch district.

“Pakistan fired mortar shells and is firing with heavy weapons in the Krisha Ghati sector. The army is also retaliating in an equal manner,” the spokesperson said.

A sub-inspector of the Border Security Force (BSF) died in firing by Pakistani troops in Rajouri sector on September 13, the day the heads of the BSF and Pakistan Rangers agreed to come up with a mechanism for maintaining peace along the international border in Jammu and Kashmir.

Six people died in Pakistani firing in Balakote sector during August 15-16.

The chiefs of the BSF and Pakistan Rangers met for talks in New Delhi against the backdrop of a sharp downturn in bilateral ties and a spike in militant violence and firing along the frontiers in Jammu and Kashmir. Two Pakistani militants were captured during recent terror attacks in the state.