Srinagar(Jammu and Kashmir): Pakistan has resorted to unprovoked firing on Indian forces and posts along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border on more than a dozen occasions since February 2021, when the two countries agreed to abide by the 2003 ceasefire agreement.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, a senior police officer said, "On October 20, Pakistan resorted to sniper firing in the Keran sector of Kupwara district, as a result of which one soldier was injured. The injured soldier Sourav Kumar was shifted to 92 Army Base Hospital in Srinagar where his condition is said to be stable and out of danger."
The official further said, "Earlier on October 17, two BSF personnel were injured in an unprovoked firing by Pakistan Rangers in Arnia sector of Jammu district. Both the injured soldiers (Constable Alok Saha and Surjeet Biswas) were from Bengal and were posted with 120 battalions of BSF. The security forces in both sectors responded to the unprovoked firing by Pakistan."
Speaking about the reasons for firing from Pakistan's side, the official said, "Whenever they resort to unprovoked firing at our posts, they officially claim that their soldiers have nothing to do with it. But looking at the past, it can be said that Pakistan Rangers usually fire towards our side either to divert attention from a major infiltration plan or when there is a major political development on either side."
According to Jammu and Kashmir Police data accessed by ETV Bharat, Pakistan has resorted to unprovoked firing at least six times in 2022 and four times so far in 2023. In 2021, 72 such incidents of ceasefire violations along the international border and the Line of Control (LoC) were recorded. The decision to re-work the 2003 ceasefire agreement was taken after a meeting between the Director General Operations of India and Pakistan on 24-25 February 2021.
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However, as per the police data, 5,133 incidents of ceasefire violations took place in 2020, which is the highest since 2003. There were 3,479 violations in 2019. Interestingly, on August 5, 2019, the Centre abrogated Article 370. Additionally, there were 2,140 incidents of ceasefire violations in 2018. Pertinently, the border between India and Pakistan is 3,323 km, of which 221 km is the international border and 740 km is the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking on the ceasefire violations from Pakistan's side, a senior police officer said that "the situation on the border has not become volatile due to the violation of the ceasefire agreement, but the BSF and the army have been directed to increase surveillance on the borders and the LoC."
Meanwhile, when the Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh was asked about the violation of the ceasefire agreement along the border and the LoC, he said "Both forces (Army and BSF) are investigating the recent incidents at Arnia (Jammu) and Keran (Kupwara)."
"The reasons for both the incidents and how they happened will emerge eventually. But the overall understanding of the ceasefire remains intact. We have a very strong security grid on the border to counter any breach," he said.
