After firing at Indian posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch sector since August 6, the Pakistan army yesterday opened fire at a forward post in the Pallanwala sector of the Akhnoor subdivision, 60 km north of Jammu.
"Around 10:30 pm yesterday, Pakistani troops opened fire in the Bhadwal forward area of the Pallanwala sector, resulting in an exchange of fire till midnight," said a senior Army officer. He said Pakistani troops used small arms fire and targeted four posts.
"We gave them an effective and strong response," he said.
While the Poonch sector has not witnessed fresh firing by the Pakistan army for the past two days, firing in Pallanwala seems to be an attempt to ease off the pressure along the LoC opposite the Poonch sector, he said. The officer divulged that senior officers of the Pakistan army had conducted aerial and ground recce on the other side of the LoC opposite Poonch, Saujiyan, Mendhar and Hamirpur belts.
"Latest Intelligence inputs and our observations tell that the Pakistan army has also moved artillery opposite the Mendhar sector. While an artillery battery usually comprises six guns, they have moved two to three artillery guns opposite Mendhar," he said.
So far, Pakistan had been using battalion-level weapons viz, small arms fire and automatics, including rocket-propelled grenades and mortars (82 mm), drawing a similar response from the Indian side.
"Though the artillery has not been used by them (Pakistani troops) till now, the possibility of using it (following artillery movement opposite Mendhar) cannot be ruled out," he said.
"We are keeping a constant watch on developments unfolding on the other side," he said. After remaining quiet to unwarranted and unprovoked firing by Pakistani troops, the Indian Army is now going full throttle.
Since August 8, the Indian Army has decimated 15 Pakistani posts and several bunkers opposite the Poonch, Mendhar and Hamirpur areas by firing mortar shells, rockets and automatic weapons, including anti-material guns.
From August 8 to 14, Pakistani troops fired 900 mortars (82mm), 120 rocket-propelled grenades, 13,500 rounds of small arms fire and 6,000 rounds of automatic weapons in the Poonch, Mendhar and Balakote sectors.
The Indian Army retaliated and fired 600 mortars, 150 rockets, 22,000 rounds of small arms fire and 6,000 rounds of automatic weapons
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Truce violation
* From August 8 to 14, Pakistani troops fired 900 mortars (82mm), 120 rocket-propelled grenades, 13,500 rounds of small arms fire and 6,000 rounds of automatic weapons in the Poonch, Mendhar and Balakote sectors
* The Indian Army retaliated and fired 600 mortars, 150 rockets, 22,000 rounds of small arms fire and 6,000 rounds of automatic weapons