Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
New Delhi,
India on Friday accused Pakistan of trying to push terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir and giving cover to such attempts by continuous firing along the border.
“No doubt about that,” Home Minister Rajnath Singh told reporters here when asked whether the repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops were to cover infiltration attempts by militants.
The Home Minister said Pakistan has been firing towards Indian side along the International Border in Jammu region and the BSF was giving a befitting reply.
“BSF jawans are giving a befitting reply,” he said.
When asked about Islamabad’s protest against heavy firing by India, Singh said it was Pakistan which started the firing and “we are just responding to it”.
Pakistan Rangers yesterday targeted 13 border outposts in Samba sector in Jammu and Kashmir, a day after four Pakistani rangers were killed in a sharp counter-attack following the death of an Indian jawan in cross-border firing.
The Home Minister had said Pakistan should desist from such violations.
“Pakistan should not do this,” Singh had said.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had said Islamabad does not seem to learn any lesson.
Ceasefire violations breach 11-year-old record
The year 2014 saw over 550 violations by Pakistan of the 2003 ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, breaching a 11-year-old record.
In 2014, according to available figures provided by the Army, there was a 158 per cent increase in ceasefire violations by Pakistan.
“2014 has seen the highest ceasefire violations by Pakistan, targeting civilian areas and forward border posts along LoC and international border (IB),” said military spokesman Colonel S. D. Goswami.
Troops of India and Pakistan intermittently exchange fire on the LoC (Line of Control) and IB (international Border), despite the 2003 agreement to observe the ceasefire. Pakistan’s increased firing and sniper attacks on civilian areas and forward posts have made the army take a tough stand.
Colonel Goswami further stated, “We are giving primacy to preventing infiltration by adopting a robust counter-infiltration strategy, which has an appropriate mix of technology and human resources put together to check infiltration effectively, while we simultaneously degrade remaining terrorists in the hinterland”.
Data accessed from the Ministry Of Defence said the highest ceasefire violations were reported from Jammu sector.
The Army has been directed to respond appropriately with double the force, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said recently.
It may be recalled that over 32,000 people were forced to leave their homes and take shelter in relief camps established by the government following heavy firing by Pakistan troops on civilian areas and forward posts along the LoC.
Former Border Security Force Director General D.K. Pathak termed the ceasefire violations as the most heavy case of firing and shelling since the 1971 Indo-Pak War. — PTI/ANI
