SRINAGAR: Three days after Indian army foiled BAT attack of Pakistan troops and heavily armed militants in Khari Karmara area of Poonch sector in Jammu and Kashmir, tension along the frontiers escalated after at least three Pakistan military helicopters flew close to the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch sector on Wednesday.
An army official said Pakistan army helicopters flew very close to LoC in Khari Karmara area of Poonch sector this morning.
He said the helicopters after flying very close to the LoC went back and visited their posts on other side of the LoC.
The official, however, played down the incident said the helicopters did not violate the air space and did not fly over to this side of LoC.
“They did not cross the boundary and as such there was no firing from our side,” he said.
According to laid down norms by India and Pakistan, the rotary wing aircraft should not come within one kilometre of the LoC and fixed wing aircraft should not be within 10 km of it.
The incident comes three days after army foiled a BAT attack of Pakistan army and heavily armed militants on their post in the same area on February 19.
A militant was killed and three army men injured in the encounter.
During the searches of the area, army men had recovered three RPG grenades, 4 disposable Rocket Launchers, 2 IKOM radio sets, 1 AK Magazine, 4 UBGL grenades, 7 Hand grenades, PIKA belt fired, 1 mobile phone, 3 back packs, medical satchel and a Pakistan flag.
Today’s incident is likely to further escalate border tension between Indian and Pakistani troops.
There has been a surge in border ceasefire violations and firing and mortar shelling by the Pakistani troops along the LoC and International Border (IB) in J&K in first two months this year.
A BSF jawan identified as constable S K Murmu, died in Pakistani troops sniper fire along the LoC in Karnagh sector of Tanghdar in North Kashmir last evening.
The Pakistani troops again violated the border ceasefire along the LoC in Tangdhar sector today and fired on army posts and positions, an army official said.
He said the army men also effectively returned the fire and targeted Pakistan army posts.
At least 21 people including 12 security men and nine civilians have been killed and over 75 others injured in Pakistani troops firing and mortar shelling along the LoC and IB in 2018.
Among the deceased security men is 23-year-old Captain Kapil Kundu R/o Gurugram, Haryana, who alongwith three army men was killed in Pakistani troops firing and mortar shelling on February 4 in Rajouri district.
In 2017, 35 people including 19 army men, four BSF personnel and 12 civilians were killed in ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the LoC and IB in the State