Pak opens fire on Indian posts in Ladakh.

Pak opens fire on Indian posts in Ladakh.

NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD | PTI  | 21 Aug 2013 :: Violating the ceasefire yet again, Pakistani troops fired at Indian positions in Shakma sector of Skardu region along the Line of Control (LoC) in Ladakh last night which was retaliated by the Indian side, Army officials said in Delhi on Wednesday.

In Islamabad, Pakistan Army said one of its officers was killed and a soldier was injured in the firing.

“A Pakistan Army officer, Captain Sarfraz, was killed and a soldier was seriously injured due to unprovoked Indian firing,” a Pakistani Army officer said.

Indian Army officials said they have no knowledge about any deaths or injuries on the Pakistani side.

Pakistani Army claimed Indian troops started firing at 11.15 PM on Tuesday and the Pakistani side responded “effectively”. The exchange continued till 2.15 AM today, it said.(Courtesy:The Hindu)

ARMED FORCES FREE TO RESPOND AS APPROPRIATE: ANTONY.

Armed forces free to respond as appropriate: Antony.

Pak violates ceasefire again

Soldiers on vigil near the Line of Control. Escalating
 border tension, Pakistani troops on Monday violated the
 ceasefire for the fifth time in the last three days by
 targeting forward Indian posts along the LoC in
Poonch district. File photo

JAMMU | VINAY KUMAR | 12 Aug 2013 :: Even as the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir remains tense in the wake of repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan, Defence Minister A. K. Antony on Monday said that armed forces were free to respond to the situation "appropriately".

Refusing to answer questions on politics by journalists in Kochi after the launch ceremony of India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, Mr. Antony said that Parliament was in session and he would not reply to any question about his two statements In Parliament on the killing of five Indian soldiers at the LoC in Poonch sector that had created a storm.

He was asked about the situation on the LoC and his directions to the Army after the incident on the LoC. "Armed forces are free to respond to developing situation there (on the LoC) appropriately",' Mr. Antony said.

PTI adds:

Pakistani troops on Monday violated the ceasefire for the fifth time in the last three days by targeting forward Indian posts along the LoC in Poonch district with mortar shells, rockets and small arms firing.

The Indian troops, guarding the borderline, took positions and retaliated resulting in heavy exchanges.

“Pakistan troops opened heavy firing with small arms, mortar shells and rockets on Indian forward posts along LoC in Poonch and Durga Battalion areas around 0150 hours”, Defence Spokesman S.N. Acharya said on Monday.

“It was yet another ceasefire violation by Pakistan”, the Spokesman said, adding the firing took place from 0150 hours till 0600 hours.

There was no loss of life or injury to anyone in the Pakistani firing, Mr. Acharya said.

Pakistani troops fired at 11 posts in Digwar, Mankote and Durga Battalion areas along the LoC in Poonch.

This is fifth ceasefire violation by Pakistan troops in the past three days.

Pakistani troops had fired at Durga Battalion area with small arms firing and mortars along LoC in Poonch around 2150 hours on Sunday night. The firing continued for three hours and Army troops from this side retaliated, he said.

There have been 57 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops this year from January 1 to August 5, which is 80 per cent more than the corresponding period last year.(Courtesy: The Hindu)

India wants Pak to take responsibility for LoC killings.

India wants Pak to take responsibility for LoC killings.

NEW DELHI | PTI | 11 Aug 2013 :: India on Sunday said it wants the Pakistan Government to take responsibility for killing of five of its soldiers on the LoC and asserted that all issues will be factored in “objectively” in dealing with the neighbouring country.

Noting that Pakistan government will remain responsible for any such incidents, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said India has done a “lot more” to contribute to the peace process and insisted that the neighbouring country must take responsibility for the LoC incident.

“The responsibility must rest with the government. Our meeting point is the civilian elected government of Pakistan, not the Pakistan Army or any other agency,” he said.

Referring to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s statement on killing of five Indian soldiers, Mr. Khurshid rued that there was no indication of acceptance of responsibility for the attack.

“One element is that the regret about what has happened, which has certainly been mentioned. But, there is no indication of acceptance of responsibility.(Courtesy: The Hindu)Read More >>>