Pakistan violates ceasefire along IB in J-K's Kathua, Indian Army retaliates

Pakistan on Sunday violated ceasefire by resorting to mortar shelling and small arms firing on forward posts and villages along the International Border in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir. The firing from across the border started in Manyari-Chorgali area of Hiranagar sector around 8.45 pm on Saturday and continued intermittently through the night, officials said. The unprovoked firing from across the border has risen after India's decision to revoke Article 370, a constitutional provision that had given a significant autonomy to the state of Jammu and Kashmir for decades. Pakistan has been opposing India's "unilateral move" and downgraded its diplomatic ties with New Delhi in protest.

The Border Security Force retaliated effectively, the officials said. There was no report of any casualty or damage in the cross-border firing which ended around 5.30 am this morning, they said.

On Friday, an Army jawan was killed in ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir's Nowshera sector. Earlier on October 6, Pakistan had targeted forward posts and villages along the International border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC) in three districts of Jammu and Kashmir. However, there was no report of any casualty in the Pakistani firing which took place along the IB in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district, along the LoC in Digwar area of Poonch district and Nowshera and Laam in Rajouri district.

This year, according to officials, Pakistan has violated the ceasefire along the LoC over 2,000 times, leaving 21 Indians dead and scores injured. India has repeatedly called upon Pakistan to ask its forces to adhere to the 2003 ceasefire agreement between the two countries to maintain peace along the LoC and the International Border.