Ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Rajouri, two civilians killed; all schools along LoC closed for indefinite period

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Srinagar: Pakistan violated ceasefire on Saturday along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district.

Two civilians were killed and three others were injured when Pakistani army fired mortar bombs and automatic weapons along the LoC.

The Pakistan Army initiated indiscriminate mortar shelling, following which the Indian troops effectively retaliated.

The Indian Army confirmed the ceasefire violation incident.

Speaking to IANS, Defence Ministry spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Manish Mehta said, "Pakistan Army initiated indiscriminate firing and shelling on our positions on the LoC in the Naushera sector."

Following a series of ceasefire violations by Pakistan, all schools in Nowshera, Qila Darhal and Manjakote along the Line of Control (LOC) shall remain closed for an indefinite period.

At least one incident of ceasefire violation by Pakistan has been reported daily along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir in 2015 and 2016, with 23 security personnel being killed in the two years, the Home Ministry has said in an RTI reply.

The Trump administration has blamed Pakistan for deteriorating Indo-Pak relations and warned that the ties might worsen if another "high-profile" terror attack emanates from across the border.

"Islamabad's failure to curb support to anti-India militants and New Delhi's growing intolerance of this policy, coupled with a perceived lack of progress in Pakistan's investigations into the January 2016 Pathankot cross-border attack, set the stage for a deterioration of bilateral relations in 2016," Daniel Coats, director of National Intelligence, told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing.