Pakistani troops violate ceasefire at six places

JAMMU - Pakistani troops Thursday opened heavy fire at five positions along the Line of Control and at another place from across the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir in a violation of ceasefire, minutes after a joint press briefing between External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Islamabad.

At around 10.30 p.m. Pakistani troops started firing from across the International Border in Ranbirsinghpora sector, 30 km west of Jammu, in a clear violation of the ceasefire.

Within minutes, the army sources said gun fire also came from across the LoC that divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan at the Krishna Ghati sector in Mendhar area of Poonch district, 230 km north of Jammu.

At a joint press conference in Islamabad Thursday evening, Krishna had taken up the issue of infiltration from Pakistani soil which was causing problems in Kashmir. To which, his Pakistani counterpart responded saying that neither the Pakistani government nor any agency was involved in the infiltration, and suggested that the Indian government deal with the infiltration at its own level.

The Indian army sources said that the Pakistani army which was not happy over the dialogue between India and Pakistan has sought to escalate tensions on the borders after the day of dialogue was over.

Firing from across was continuing.