Pak forces use mortars in escalation at Jammu

A Border Security Force (BSF) trooper was injured as firing across the India-Pakistan border at Ranbir Singh Pura near Jammu continued until 3am on Friday, putting the spotlight on a sector that has largely been quiet, especially after the Indian and Pakistan armies agreed to a ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in February 2021, officials aware of the matter said.

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The firing started around 8pm on Thursday. After the overnight exchange of fire between the Pakistan Rangers and BSF, an uneasy calm returned to the Arnia and RS Pura sectors.

A BSF spokesperson in Delhi said that Pakistan Rangers also fired mortars, which was countered “befittingly with appropriate response”. The use of mortars is escalatory. The spokesperson added that intermittent firing continued until 3am and left the trooper injured. “He was provided medical aid,” he said.

Villages along the border were also put on alert following Pakistan’s violation of the ceasefire agreement. Residents said mortar shells fired from Pakistan landed at some houses near the border, and security forces on Thursday asked people to switch off lights and remain alert to avoid civilian casualties.

According to BSF spokespersons,the Pakistan Rangers targeted border outposts and civilian outposts around 9.15pm on Thursday. “At 10.40pm, Pakistan Rangers used heavy machine gun fire. At 1.08am, they fired another heavy round, targeting the outposts,” said a spokesperson.

BSF troops were on high alert and the headquarters in Delhi was being briefed every hour through the day. A commandant-level flag meeting is likely to be held at the border during the weekend if there is no further violation of the ceasefire from Pakistan side. “During the day there was no incident of firing. A flag-level meeting of the commandants will be held within a day or two,” said a BSF officer who asked not to be named.