New Pakistan Army chief visits LoC

Islamabad: Pakistan`s newly appointed Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif on Tuesday visited the Line of Control that had seen escalating tensions in the recent past. This was his first visit to the area since taking over late last month and is part of his series of trips to Army bases across the country. He met with the officers and soldiers posted at the LoC, state-run PTV reported. LoC had seen rising tensions since the beginning of this year. Despite a truce put in place along the LoC in November 2003, intermittent skirmishes have continued along the heavily militarised ceasefire line. The situation heated up on August 6, when five Indian soldiers were killed in an attack by Pakistani troops on the Indian side of the LoC. Since then, both sides have accused each other of violating the truce. At least four Pakistani soldiers, including a captain, have been killed in recent weeks.