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The border guards of India and Pakistan exchanged fire for the third straight day Friday on the international border in Kashmir, Indian media reports said.
One Indian Border Security Force soldier was dead while three of his colleagues and four civilians were wounded in Arnia sector of R S Pora on Wednesday in exchange of fire between the two sides, said Indian daily Times of India.
The two sides using light and heavy artillery targeted each other’s posts for hours together.
According to India’s official broadcaster — All India Radio ( AIR), Pakistani Rangers violated the cease-fire first, evoking retaliation from India’s Border Security Force personnel.
“Pakistani Rangers stationed at Jarwal Post across the International Border, resumed targeting Pittal BSF border outpost in Arnia forward area in RS Pura Sector in Jammu around 11 p.m. last night with light and heavy arms,” AIR quoted BSF officials as saying. “BSF troops guarding the borderline retaliated with equal calibre arms and mortar resulting in exchanges which continued until 4:30 a.m. today.”
This is the fifth cease-fire violation so far in this month. The new Indian government led by Narendra Modi has promised to revamp national security and vowed “zero tolerance” for acts of terrorism.
The troops of India and Pakistan intermittently exchange fire on line-of-control (LoC), despite an agreement in 2003 to observe cease-fire along the international boder and LoC in Kashmir.
Last year over 200 cease-fire violations were recorded on LoC, the highest in the last 10 years.
Kashmir, the former princely state was divided between India and Pakistan and is claimed by both in full. Since their Independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. The partition of India had triggered one of the greatest and bloodiest migrations of modern history.
TBP and Agencies
