In less than a month after a sector commander-level meeting between the border guarding forces of Pakistan and India, Pakistan violated ceasefire in the Samba sector last night. The BSF retaliated in equal measure.
“Four rounds of AK-47 assault rifle were fired from a jungle on the Pakistan’s side towards our side. There was no targeted firing and it could not be attributed to Pakistan Rangers. They could have been ultras because there are a number of them on their (Pakistan) side,” said RK Sharma, Inspector General of the BSF, Jammu Frontier.
We didn’t see any suspicious movement but following four rounds of fire from Pakistan’s side, we also retaliated in equal measure and also fired a para bomb to light up the area to ensure that no intrusion bid was made by subversive elements from across the border, added Sharma.
The IG said the BSF would shortly lodge a strong protest with the Rangers against the unwarranted firing from the Pakistan’s side.
Official sources said around 2.20 am on Monday night, four rounds of small arms were fired from across the border in the Chalyari area of Samba sector.
“Fire didn’t come from any of the Pakistani posts in the area. Consequently, we also fired three or four rounds and a para bomb,” they added. There were no reports of damage on the Indian side.
It may be stated here that following intense firing and shelling by Pakistan for three consecutive nights from October 23 to October 25 in the Samba and Hiranagar subsectors, the BSF and Rangers had a sector commander-level meeting on October 27 to de-escalate tension and restore sanity on the border.
From July 15 to October 25, at least 13 persons, including two BSF jawans and two BSF officers were killed and 53 others injured in rampant ceasefire violations by the Pakistan army and Pakistan Rangers on the LoC and the international border in the Jammu region. More than 2,000 border residents had also fled their homes to escape Pakistani shelling.
Eventually, sweets diplomacy was back on the international border on November 11 when the BSF and Pakistan Rangers exchanged sweets and pleasantries at seven border outposts on the Zero Line in seven subsectors along the border in the Jammu region to mark Diwali.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a recent letter to Asiya Andrabi, chief of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, avowed unwavering support of his country to separatists.
Meanwhile, the BSF and the Pakistan Rangers held a flag meeting at the local level in the Samba sector today.
“The meeting was held at the local level between the post commandants of BSF and Pakistan Rangers where the former lodged a strong protest against the unwarranted act from their side,” said an Intelligence official.
Pakistan violates truce pact in Samba sector, BSF retaliates
