Pakistan violates ceasefire hours after flag meet

Barely seven hours after India and Pakistan held a flag meeting in an attempt to diffuse the tensions along the International Border along Jammu, Pakistan once again violated the ceasefire in the Pargwal sector of the international border near Jammu, the same area where the flag meeting was held.

A senior Border Security Force officer said that Pakistan Rangers resorted to unprovoked firing using small arms and medium machine guns in the Pargwal sector after a two day lull.

“Three BSF posts were affected due to the Pakistan firing. However, BSF troops gave a befitting reply and the firing has now stopped,” the officer said, adding that there was no loss of life or injury to anyone in the firing.

Senior officers from BSF and Pakistan Rangers had met in Pargwal sector on Wednesday following a request from the Pakistan side for a flag meeting.

However, the borderline in Arnia, R S Pura, Kanachak, Ramgarh, and Gajansoo sub-sectors along IB, which witnessed over 45 days of firing, remained clam for the third night without any firing by Pakistan troops.

According to sources, the flag meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere. The two sides apart from discussing few local issues had a brief discussion on the recent firing at the international border.

This is 24th ceasefire violations in the month of August. Home Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to visit the border areas on Friday to take stock of the situation at the ground level. 

-- With inputs from PTI.

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