Posted on 01/19/2005 1:09:28 AM PST by HAL9000
NEW DELHI/JAMMU: In what appears to be the first serious violation of the ceasefire along the border since November 2003, Pakistani troops reportedly fired 20 rounds of mortar shells at Durga near Poonch town in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday night. The firing went on for two hours and all army posts along the Line of Control have been put on alert.Army officers said there appeared to be an attempt to aid cross-border infiltration of militants from Pakistan.
"The Pakistani army fired at our Durga post between 6.30 and 8.30 pm. We have not retaliated and have asked our troops to exercise restraint. We have had no casualties so far," said a senior army officer.
The ceasefire has been in place since November 2003, with both armies not exchanging fire along the 778-km LoC and the 150-km AGPL (Actual Ground Position Line) in the Siachen sector.
By firing these shells, one army officer said, the Pakistani army could be "expressing its anger since we killed five militants trying to infiltrate into India earlier in the day". Meanwhile, defence minister Pranab Mukherjee said the government's decision to reduce soldiers in the valley would be reviewed if the situation in the strife-torn state deteriorated.
"The decision was taken in the context of a particular situation...when the actual number of infiltrators had reduced. It will be reviewed as and when required," said Mukherjee, after a NCC investiture ceremony on Tuesday.
Earlier in the day, security forces shot dead five heavily-armed Pakistani mercenaries after a 10-hour gunbattle. A Jawan was seriously injured.
The encounter took place after a group of six to seven militants, accompanied by their commander, crossed over to the Balnoi forward area of Mendhar sector in Poonch district around 1 am.
After the encounter, the Army launched a search operation to apprehend the other militants.
Trouble was brewing elsewhere in the state too. A soldier was killed and two others were injured when militants blew up an Army vehicle by detonating an improvised explosive device (IED) in the Jugal-Sakhi Maidan track in Poonch on Tuesday afternoon.
I hope the Indians DON'T use restraint.
Time to return the complements.
Here is the deal: "If you fire 20 rounds,we fire 200 rounds".
"If Islamo-fundies ever take over in Pakistan......."
Islamo-fundies have been running Pakistan ever since it was born. They just wear a "moderate" mask when the US is around.
In the long run, we can't trust Pakistan. Musharraf's days are numbered. If worst comes to worst and something happens to him, I just hope that India will deal with them sooner rather than later.
Aw, Gengis, say it ain't so ! Pakistan has been a staunch ally in the WOT ! Period ! It has proven the country could be trusted with nukes !
(HEAVY sarcasm)
Trusting Pakistan with nukes is like trusting an innocent looking Muslim carrying an Ak-47 and boarding the same plane in which your daughter is travelling.
And yet (in what regards Pakistan) we don't seem too concerned about the safety of our daughters or of the rest of the flight...
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