NEW DELHI: Ahead of the Director General-level talks between border forces of India and Pakistan, Pakistani troops late on Sunday night violated ceasefire. According to Home Ministry sources, heavy shelling from 82 mortars and rocket-propelled guns started around 11 pm targeting forward posts and civilian areas of Kerni-Sabzian in Poonch sector. Abdul Hamid, a villager, died in the heavy shelling and four others were injured.
Meanwhile, another shocker just ahead of the talks came from Pakistan army chief General Raheel Sharif, who termed Kashmir as ‘unfinished agenda’ of partition and warned that India will have to pay unbearable cost in case of war.
“Armed forces of Pakistan are fully capable of dealing with all types of internal and external threats, may it be conventional or sub-conventional; whether it is cold start or hot start. We are ready,” Sharif said in Rawalpindi.
On Monday evening, India hit back with Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh saying that PoK is part of Jammu and Kashmir but is under illegal possession of Pakistan. “If there is any subject related to Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan it is how the parts of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir can again be included in India. That means the area, which after 65-66 years, even after being part of Jammu and Kashmir, is under illegal possession of Pakistan,” Singh said.
The sources, while confirming that the five-day DG-level talks will be held as per schedule from Wednesday, pointed out the surge in ceasefire violations since September 1. A source said the latest incident was the ninth in September. “We have noticed increase in proxy war by Pakistan whenever dialogue is scheduled to take place. It is a well-known design. On September 2, Pakistan had targeted Ghati sector and the very next day it targeted Bhimber Gali. A jawan was injured during heavy shelling in Poonch sector on September 5,” a source added.
Chiefs of BSF and Pakistan Rangers will meet on September 9 as decided by the two sides which also figured in the Ufa statement. Infiltration, ceasefire violation and targeting of civilian areas by Pakistani regular forces are some of the issues India is likely to raise. However, New Delhi is also perturbed over the sudden surge in ceasefire violation.
Home Ministry officials said the families affected due to the shelling have been shifted to safer places and accommodated in government buildings with all basic amenities such as health care, drinking water, power, temporary toilets, sanitation and security.