India, Pakistan intensify border conflict : Befitting reply given, claims army chief Suhag
Source: The Sangai Express / Agencies

Srinagar, October 08 2014: Fighting intensified between India and Pakistan in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir on Wednesday, wounding a dozen along a more than 200-km (124-mile) stretch of border.

Pakistan's military fired machine guns and mortars at about 60 Indian army posts, a senior Indian Border Security Force official said, adding that India retaliated.

"Pakistani rangers targeted the entire Jammu border during the night and the firing is still going on," said Indian police official Uttam Chand.

Eight Indian civilians and a member of India's border security force were wounded, Chand said.

Three Indian soldiers were also injured, a senior army officer said.

The mostly Muslim Himalayan region of Kashmir is claimed by both India and Pakistan and has been a major focus of tension in South Asia.

The nuclear-armed neighbours have fought two wars over the territory and there have been regular clashes along their de facto border, known as the Line of Control.

A man goes through the remains of a shell hit portion of a house

Thousands of Indians living in Indian-controlled Kashmir have fled their homes as the fighting moves to civilian areas.

The shooting, which started more than a week ago, has seen some of the most intense violence between the two Nations since they agreed a border truce in 2003 .

Indian and Pakistani politicians have accused each other of unprovoked violations of their border truce, as goodwill that had built up after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in May evaporates in the face of weeks of sporadic fighting.

"It is very unusual that we are seeing both sides targeting civilian areas and buildings," said S Chandra-sekharan, director of the South Asia Analysis Group in New Delhi.

"At the moment neither side seems willing to back down" .

The ceasefire violations and firing from across the line of control are "quite serious" and the Government wants a "quick resolution" of the problem there, IAF chief Arup Raha said on Wednesday.

"The issue is quite serious and it should not happen.

Government is taking it seriously and we want a quick resolution of the problem.

We want peace and tranquillity and want the borders to be normal.

"India wants good relations with our neighbours and the Government is taking a number of steps in this direction diplomatically and otherwise.

We are all concerned and efforts are being made to bring this to an end.

All security agencies are concerned the way the things have developed in last few days and we want an early resolution," he said when asked to comment on the ceasefire violations along the LoC and the International Border.

Air Chief Marshal Raha was talking to reporters on the sidelines of the 82nd Air Force Day parade.

Asked about the directives given by the Government to the services on the way to handle the ceasefire violations, the IAF chief said, "Directions are very simple that we need to resolve the issue at the earliest.

We want peace and tranquillity on the border so that the Nation can focus on development and other important issues" .

Since October 1, the frequency of ceasefire violations by Pakistan has increased.

Two women were killed and 15 others injured in heavy mortar shelling and firing by Pakistani troops along the international border in Jammu & Kashmir, taking the death toll to eight in the continued ceasefire violations by Pakistan for over a week.

Extending the ceasefire violations to new areas, Pakistan Rangers shelled border outposts (BoPs) and villages in Samba and Kathua along with Jammu during the night and the firing was continuing till this morning.

As Pakistan continues to violate ceasefire along the Jammu and Kashmir border, Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag on Wednesday said that India is giving efficient as well as appropriate response to the Pakistani troops.

The comments came as the Pakistani troops targeted 50 security outposts and three dozen hamlets with heavy mortar shelling and firing overnight along the entire 192-km international border in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to reports, India has responded strongly, conveying the Indian leadership's resolve and ability to deal with Pakistan.

New Delhi has cleared that talks with Islamabad will not be possible unless Pakistan stops violating ceasefire at border.

In retaliation to Pakistan targeting civilian habitations in Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Home Ministry today put on hold a scheduled flag meeting between Pakistan and Indian paramilitary forces to discuss the recent hostilities.

Extending the ceasefire violations to new areas, the Pakistan Rangers shelled border outposts (BoPs) and villages in Samba and Kathua along with Jammu during the night and the firing was continuing till Wednesday morning.

A woman was killed in the shelling in Jaladi village in Samba while 11 people, including three BSF personnel, were injured, a BSF spokespersons said today.

So far, 7 persons have been killed and nearly 70 injured in the escalation since October 1 with over 16,000 people migrating to safer areas in these districts.

There have been over 2 dozen ceasefire violations along Indo-Pak border in Jammu & Kashmir since October 1 .