CHANDIGARH, Aug 19:
There has been a spurt in ceasefire violations in last two weeks on the Line of Control and International Border in Jammu and Kashmir “which are happening on daily basis,” a senior BSF official said here.
“This shows desperation by ISI and Pakistan forces to push their terrorists into Indian territory under the cover of fire by attempting to pin down Indian security forces,” Special Director General (West) of BSF, Rajdip Singh, in Mohali district said in a statement.
“Ceasefire violations by Pakistani forces is not a new phenomenon. The ceasefire on the LoC with Pakistan in J&K came into effect on November 26, 2003. Pakistani forces are regularly and blatantly violating the ceasefire now and then.
“But in the recent past, there has been a spurt in ceasefire violations. Since May, 31 ceasefire violations in Jammu region and eight violations on LoC in Kashmir region have taken place. BSF troops have given a befitting and calibrated response to these violations,” he said.
Singh said Pakistani troops were not just targeting Indian posts but also villages along the border. He said it was trying to push as many militants as possible into Indian territory before the mountain passes of Himalayas were closed due to onset of winter.
The recent ceasefire violations by Pakistan Army/Rangers on BSF posts in J&K through BAT (Border Action Teams) took place in various areas including Nowgaon (four), Kupwara (three), Rajouri (19), I.Nagar (seven) and one each in Bandipora, Jammu and S.Bani.
“Such type of attacks by BAT in near future cannot be ruled out,” Singh said.
The Special DG of BSF said, “Pakistan is desperate to flare up the Kashmir issue. BSF troops deployed in the J&K region are on high alert and fully prepared to retaliate in a befitting manner.”
He said there have been three incidents of sniping on IB in Jammu in July and August, in which one BSF soldier died and two were seriously injured.
“Senior officers from FHQ and Chandigarh visited forward areas and interacted with field commanders and issued suitable instructions to reply in an effective and calibrated manner to sniping, BAT action, standoff fire and infiltration bids,” Singh said.
He said in Punjab Frontier from January this year, 37 attempts of smuggling from across the border were foiled by the troops.
Singh said BSF is keeping pace with new technologies for effective border management.
“BSF is assimilating advanced technologies in discharge of daily duties to ensure effective security of India’s international borders. Special surveillance equipment has been deployed at various places on borders for better domination,” he said. (PTI)
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel