Soldier`s killing, ceasefire violations: Will the govt act tough with Pakistan?

Zee Media Bureau

Jammu: Despite the goodwill measures taken by the Prime Ministers of the both sides, Pakistan troops continue to violate ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and resort to heavy firing on the Indian posts. Pakistan troops continue to violate the ceasefire agreement signed between New Delhi and Islamabad in November 2003, more than 100 times this year, and the situation now warrants the Congress-led UPA government to take a tough stance on the issue. In the latest such incident, Pakistani troops opened fire at Indian forward posts in Balakote sub-sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district on Tuesday, killing a jawan. This was the second ceasefire violation by the Pakistani troops of the day and the eighth in less than a week. Indian troops retaliated and heavy exchange of fire continued several hours after the firing that started at 5.30 PM from across the border, according to the Defence spokesman. The jawan, who died after being hit by a mortar shell at a Forward Defence Location, was identified as Lance Naik MS Khan of the 15 Bihar regiment. General Officer Commanding 16 Corps Lt Gen D S Hooda later condoled the death of the jawan. Earlier in the day, Pakistani Army resorted to shelling of mortars besides automatic and small arms firing in forward areas along LoC in Hamirpur and Bhimbher Gali (BG) sub-sectors of Poonch district, he said. Indian troops guarding the border took positions and retaliated strongly with equal calibre weapons, triggering exchanges which continued intermittently, he said. "There was no loss of life or injury to anyone in the firing and shelling by Pakistan along LoC on this side," he added. Pakistani troops resorted to firing from 2225 hours on Monday night, the spokesman said, adding, Indian troops gave an equal calibrated retaliation triggering exchanges till 2335 hours. Border Security Force (BSF) jawan, Constable M Basu was injured when Pakistani troops resorted to firing on Katav Border Out Post (BoP) along the International Border (IB) in Samba district on Monday. On October 12, Pakistani Army troops resorted to firing of mortar shells, automatic and small arms firing in forward areas along LoC in Bharasingha and Mendhar battalion forward areas in Krishna Gati and Bhimber Gali sub-sector of Poonch. On October 11, Pakistani Army troops resorted to shelling of 82 mm mortars besides automatic and small arms firing in forward areas along LoC in Barasingha, Mendhar and Hamirpur sub-sectors of Poonch district forcing Indian troops to retaliate. With Agency inputs