Srinagar: Not paying heed to the Indian warning, Pakistan violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) twice in a span of 24 hours – first, late on Friday night and then again on Saturday afternoon.
As per reports, Pakistan Army troops opened small arms fire from across the LoC in Naushera sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district last night.
No casualties were reported in the Naushera ceasefire violation in which several Indian Army posts were targeted.
Pakistani Army started "unprovoked" firing on Indian positions at 9:25 pm last night and the firing lasted till 11:45 pm, a defence spokesman said today.
"Our troops effectively retaliated to the unprovoked firing from across the border," the spokesman said.
Hours later, Pakistani troops again opened unprovoked fire at Indian positions along the LoC in Poonch district.
Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Manish Mehta said: "The Pakistan Army opened to unprovoked firing on our positions on the Line of Control today afternoon in Poonch district.”
"They are using small arms and automatic weapons. Our troops have retaliated using same calibre weapons. Firing exchanges are still going on in the area," Mehta added.
There has seen a sudden spurt of ceasefire violations from across the border this month.
On July 16, Pakistani troops pounded a number of places along the International Border and Line of Control in Jammu region with heavy firing and mortars, leaving four persons injured and triggering fear among the villagers.
India lodged a protest with Pakistan while the Indian troops retaliated "effectively" to the cross-border firing which came ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to Jammu on Friday.
A woman was killed and six others, including two BSF jawans, were injured on July 15 in firing and mortar shelling in Jammu district by Pakistan Rangers.
On July 9, Pakistani troops had fired at a forward border post in North Kashmir killing a BSF jawan.
On July 5, a BSF jawan was killed in Pakistani firing along LoC in Nougam sector in Kashmir Valley.
Amid the rising instances of ceasefire violation, the Indian Army has warned Pakistan of a firm response.
Indian troops will respond firmly and effectively to Pakistani provocations as they feel fit and where they deem fit, a top Army commander said earlier this week .
"We have seen over last two weeks or so that the number of incidents have increased," said Northern Army Commander Lt Gen D S Hooda said.
"The response has to be firm," the General Officer Commanding in Chief (GoC-in-C) of Northern Command said.
Asked about instructions to the troops, he said "they will carry out firm response and retaliate effectively as they feel fit where they deemed fit. Nobody has to look over the shoulder to higher headquarter that this is what I need I need to do."
(With PTI inputs)
