LOC firing: No talk unless firing ceases

 

Late on Wednesday night, firing once again began from the Pakistani side along the international border, guarded on the Indian side by the paramilitary BSF, dimming the chances of an early resolution or flag meeting.

 

Sending a strong message to Pakistan that India will not tolerate any Pakistani aggression and will retaliate effectively, minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju said in Karnal, Haryana, that there would not be any flag meeting with Pakistan. 

 

IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha asserted that the ceasefire violations and firing from across the Line of Control were “quite serious” and that the government wants a “quick resolution”. 

 

National security adviser Ajit Doval and Army Chief Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag also briefed the PM on the prevailing security situation along the international border and the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.

 

On Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Modi was quoted by PTI as saying that “everything will be fine soon” when asked about the ceasefire violations by Pakistan. He was attending the “At Home” hosted by the IAF Chief on Air Force Day. 

 

Mr Modi did not speak further, but top government sources said India will not give in to “coercive diplomacy” by Pakistan and will respond strongly to further Pakistani shelling. Indian forces have retaliated effectively to the Pakistani aggression, sources added.

 

So far as casualties across the border are concerned, a report from Pakistan said three more people were killed in firing by Indian forces along the Sialkot border overnight, taking the toll to 12 on the other side. 

 

Pakistani officials claimed the latest casualties came after nine people died on Monday, the highest civilian toll in a single day in over a decade on the boundary.

 

On Wednesday, a woman who was injured in mortar shell attacks in the Sharkargarh sector of Sialkot succumbed to her injuries. Previously, eight people were killed in the Chaprar sector due to cross-border firing, they added.

 

Villages on both sides of the IB have now been emptied leaving virtually no scope for targeted firing of civilians in villages. 

 

It is expected this will bring a decline in the general area of firing, that has been going on over the past few days. Three BSF jawans and seven civilians were injured in the firing that began Tuesday night and went on till Wednesday morning. 

 

Sources said mortar firing stopped after an hour and a half . The change in weather on the border, where it has been raining, has also contributed to the dip in firing during the day, they said.

 

“Pakistan should stop... We are only protecting our sovereignty,” a source said.