In recent days, Pakistan has focused on the Poonch villages. (Proceedings)
New Delhi:
Pakistani troops have been firing artillery weapons across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and the Indian army is responding, sources said Thursday, in a dramatic escalation of hostilities on a day when three Indian soldiers lost their lives in bombing.
The ceasefire violation began last night when Pakistan fired unprovoked shots in the Mankote and Krishna Ghati sectors, a defense spokesman said.
In the afternoon, Pakistan fired along the LoC in the Keran and Machhal sectors of the strict Kupwara with artillery cannons, mortars and other weapons, army sources said.
Two soldiers were killed by Pakistani gunfire in the Nowgam sector of the Kupwara district in northern Kashmir this morning.
A third soldier was killed in a nightly shooting in Poonch. The wounded soldiers were evacuated, the spokesman said.
The use of artillery weapons marks a sharp rise in tensions along the Line of Control, which typically sees various levels of machine gun and mortar fire before long-range weapons are used.
In recent days, Pakistan has focused on the Poonch villages.
On September 5, a soldier was killed and two others, including an officer, were wounded in shooting and shelling by Pakistan along the Line of Control in the Sunderbani sector of the Rajouri district, authorities said.
On September 2, a JCO (Commissioned Petty Officer) was killed in another violation of the ceasefire by the Pakistani Army in the Keri sector of Rajouri.
Over the past eight months, more than 3,000 violations of the ceasefire have been reported by Pakistan, the most in 17 years. In September, Pakistan committed 47 violations of the ceasefire agreed by both parties in 2003.
India says Pakistani troops often open fire to help terrorists sneak into Jammu and Kashmir. The latest surge in tension comes as India is locked separately in a serious military showdown with China along the de facto border the two countries dispute.
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