News Analysis |
An Indian Army non commissioned officer was killed in retaliatory firing by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Saturday, officials said, Indian media has reported. This is the latest death in a continuing torrent of death and destruction that has been raging in the LoC.
“Pakistan Army responded to Indian unprovoked firing on Indian Army posts in Sunderbani sector around 2pm. The Pakistan Army retaliated strongly and effectively,” In the exchange of fire, Lance Naik Yogesh Muralidhar Bhadane was grievously injured and succumbed to his injuries, he added.
The firing exchange lasted around 15 minutes, and both sides used small arms, the officer said. Lance Naik Bhadane, aged 28, hailed from Khalane village in Dhule district of Maharashtra. He is survived by his wife, Punam Yogesh.
Gen. Rawat said. He was responding to a question during a press conference on possibility of Pakistan using its nuclear weapons in case the situation along the border deteriorates.
“Lance Naik Yogesh Muralidhar Bhadane was a brave soldier. The nation will always remain indebted to him for the supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty,” the Indian Army officer said. On 5th January, The Pakistan Army befittingly responded to unprovoked firing by the Indian security forces at the Working Boundary (WB), leaving at least one Indian troop dead and two others wounded on Thursday.
Read more: 3 Pakistani civilians injured after India violates ceasefire
According to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) resorted to unprovoked firing and targeted the civilian population in Zafarwal Sector earlier that day. At least three civilians received serious wounds in the incident.
Pakistan maintains that India is attempting to divert the world’s attention away from atrocities committed by government forces in India-held Kashmir.
The befitting response to the Indian aggression silenced the enemy’s guns, said the ISPR statement. This is the first incident of ceasefire violation by the Indian troops in 2018. Last year, the Indian forces carried out more than 871 ceasefire violations along the (LoC) and the WB, resulting in the killing of 39 innocent civilians and injuries to 144, compared to 382 ceasefire violations in 2016, according to a Foreign Ministry tally.
“We will call the (nuclear) bluff of Pakistan. If we will have to really confront the Pakistanis, and a task is given to us, we are not going to say we cannot cross the border because they have nuclear weapons
Ceasefire violations are a frequent feature along the Line of Control (LoC) despite the leadership of Pakistan Rangers and India’s Border Security Forces agreeing in November 2017 that the “spirit” of a 2003 ceasefire agreement must be revived to protect innocent lives.
Pakistan has maintained that India must respect the 2003 ceasefire agreement between the two neighboring countries and maintain peace on the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary. Pakistan has also urged that the Indian side should permit the United Nations Military Observers group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.
Read more: Will India resort to war with Pakistan?
Indian aggression along the LOC has often been detrimental to peace prospects between both nations. On 8th September 2017, The General Officer Commander-in-Chief (GOC-C) of the Kashmir-based Northern Command, Lt Gen Devraj Anbu said that his forces will cross the Line of Control (LoC) and target its enemies whenever the need arises.
According to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) resorted to unprovoked firing and targeted the civilian population in Zafarwal Sector earlier that day. At least three civilians received serious wounds in the incident.
He warned Pakistan that it needs to stop its infiltration attempts and those that are allegedly stoking violence in Indian-occupied Kashmir. “When we want to we will be able to breach it (LoC), go across and strike when we need,” said the three-star general in Udhampur days after his Chief said that the army should prepare for a two-front war with China and Pakistan.
The ongoing clashes alongside the border have become more serious after the recent remarks of the Indian Army chief who vowed his force were ready to call Pakistan’s “nuclear bluff” and cross the border to carry out any operation if asked by the Indian government.
Read more: A master-plan to balkanize Pakistan – Part III
“We will call the (nuclear) bluff of Pakistan. If we will have to really confront the Pakistanis, and a task is given to us, we are not going to say we cannot cross the border because they have nuclear weapons. We will have to call their nuclear bluff,” Gen. Rawat said. He was responding to a question during a press conference on possibility of Pakistan using its nuclear weapons in case the situation along the border deteriorates.