Smoke billows from the hills after shelling by Pakistan in Rajouri. File photo

Amir Karim Tantray

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 6

In all, 10 soldiers and a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan have been martyred along the Line of Control (LoC) in J&K since January 1 this year.Also, Pakistan violated the ceasefire agreement over 400 times. In two months, three more BSF jawans were also martyred along the 198-km-long International Border, which falls only in the Jammu region.The violence has spread from the Akhnoor sector of Jammu district to the Tangdhar sector of Kupwara district, thus involving a major portion of the LoC, which has caused great inconvenience to the people living nearby.Though the month of January and first two weeks of February witnessed shelling and firing on the LoC in the Jammu region only, but thereafter places such as Uri and Tangdhar falling on north of Pir Panjal in the Kashmir valley also witnessed exchange of heavy artillery.Meanwhile, the Pakistan army targeted particularly Akhnoor, Sunderbani, Nowshera, Bhimber Gali, Krishna Ghati and Poonch sectors along the LoC in the Jammu region and Uri and Tangdhar sectors of the Kashmir valley.The Army has been claiming that Pakistan army resorts to unprovoked ceasefire violations along the LoC every time, which most of the times is aimed at facilitating infiltration and at times giving cover fire to their Border Action Team members. However, the Army has responded to the violations and has caused extensive damage to the Pakistan army.

official data reveals…

• According to the government, the Pakistan army violated the truce agreement 351 times till February 21 this year
• After February 21, the Pakistan army continuously violated the agreement and the number has gone beyond 400
• Three more BSF jawans were martyred along the 198-km-long International Border, which falls only in the Jammu region