J&K: Pakistani-troops fire along LoC in Poonch; army personnel killed
What's the story
An Army personnel was killed in firing by the Pakistani troops today along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, officials said. They said the cross-border firing started in Shahpur and Kerni areas of Poonch around 5.30 pm yesterday and it continued intermittently through the night. Pakistani troops used mortar and small arms to target forward posts and villages.
Details
Soldier succumbed to injuries at the military hospital
The Indian Army retaliated to the firing strongly but the casualties suffered by Pakistan were not known immediately, officials said, adding that Pakistani troops to target forward posts and villages, using mortar and small arms. The Indian soldier was critically injured around 4 am in the firing and was immediately evacuated to the military hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, they said.
Information
On Thursday, a 24-year-old rifleman died in unprovoked firing
The latest casualties took the number of Army personnel killed in the last four days to two. On Thursday, 24-year-old rifleman Yash Paul lost his life in unprovoked firing by Pakistan Army along the LoC in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district.
Reasons
Border tensions witnessed spurt since India bombed JeM terror camps
The border skirmishes witnessed a spurt after India bombed Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camps in Pakistan's Balakot on February 26 in response to the February 14 Pulwama attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel. Four civilians, including three members of a family, have been killed and several injured as Pakistan, since then, has targeted dozens of villages in over 125 incidents of ceasefire violations along the LoC.
Ceasefire violations
2018 witnessed highest number of ceasefire violations at 2,936
The year 2018 witnessed the highest number of ceasefire violations (2,936) along the LoC and Indo-Pak border areas by the Pakistani troops in the last 15 years. India's arch-rival, Pakistan continues to violate the 2003 ceasefire agreement with India despite repeated calls for restraint and adherence to the pact during the various flag meetings between the two sides.