Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 14: Amid escalating tensions along the border, the BSF has foiled an attempt by a Pakistani Border Action Team (BAT) to attack a forward post along the Line of Control (LoC).
Surveillance equipment detected the Pakistan team approaching the post in Krishna Ghati sub-sector in Poonch district around 11.30 pm late last night, official sources said.
Alert jawans of BSF’s 135 Battalion, manning the post, fired on them resulting in exchanges, he said.
The BAT escaped towards Pakistan side, they said adding that no one was injured on the Indian side.
On August 6, a Pakistani BAT intruded into Indian territory along the LoC in Poonch sector and killed five Indian soldiers in an ambush.
Meanwhile, the bullets and not sweets were exchanged in Poonch sector between the troops of India and Pakistan on the occasion of Pakistan’s Independence Day today.
Generally, the two sides exchanged sweets to celebrate Independence Day of the two countries that falls on August 14 and 15 respectively. On Independence Day of India tomorrow, the exchange of sweets was not scheduled.
For the past quite sometime, the Armies of India and Pakistan had been exchanging sweets on all important festivals including Eid, Diwali, Independence Day and Republic Day. Army had refused to exchange sweets with Pakistani troops on August 9 on the occasion of Eid festival in view killing of five Indian soldiers by Pakistan Army and militants in Sarla battalion area of Poonch on August 5.
Today also on the occasion of Pakistan’s Independence Day, the sweets were not exchanged, sources said, adding that tomorrow also, there will be no exchange of sweets.
Sweets used to be exchanged at Chakan-Da-Bagh and Tata Pani on the LoC in Poonch district.
Even on the International Border (IB), BSF didn’t exchange sweets with Rangers at Octroi Post in RS Pura sector. On Eid, the BSF and Rangers had exchanged fruits and sweets though no such exchanges had taken place at LoC between the two Armies.
India has strongly protested the killings of five Army soldiers by the Pakistani troops and the militants.
Even after the killings, Pakistan Army had almost regularly been resorting to heavy firing on forward Indian posts.
Meanwhile, violating the ceasefire for ninth time in the past four days, Pakistani troops targeted 16 Indian forward posts and civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district last night.
“Pakistani troops fired on Indian posts along the LoC in Hamirpur-Balakote and Mendhar forward areas in Poonch district last night,” official sources said, adding in some areas the firing continued till early this morning.
The troops from across the LoC fired small arms and automatic weapons besides mortar and RPGs from 9 pm onwards.
Indian troops guarding the LoC fired back resulting in heavy exchanges sources said, adding there was no loss of life or injury to anyone in the firing on Indian side. In some posts, the firing stopped in the midnight while in some others it continued till this morning
Indian side retaliated effectively to silence the Pakistani guns.
The firing continued intermittently today also, sources said.
A total of 16 Indian forward posts in Hamirpur, Balakote and Mankote forward areas in Poonch were targeted in the firing. Pakistan fired at six posts each in Balakote and Hamirpur areas and four in Mankote belt.
Eight posts manned by the troops of 605 Mujahid Regiment troops of Pakistan Army, were involved in the firing on Indian posts.
Late tonight, Pakistan Army opened firing at Shahpur Kirni in Poonch sector.
This is the ninth ceasefire violation by Pakistan in the past four days, sources said.
Pakistani Rangers had yesterday violated the ceasefire and fired at Narayanpur Border Out Post (BOP) in Ramgarh forward area in Samba district.
Pakistani Rangers had also fired small arms on Kothay Border Out Post along IB in Samba district at 1930 hours yesterday.
On August 12, Pakistani troops had opened heavy fire using mortars, rockets and small arms on 11 Indian forward posts along the LoC in Digwar, Mankote and Durga Battalion areas.
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