At least 6 people were reported injured during an exchange of heavy fire between Punjab Rangers and Indian Border Forces across the Working Boundary in Shakargarh sector earlier today.
Punjab Rangers sources say cross-border firing has occurred intermittently throughout the night in the Kothaychak, Booraychak and Makwaal areas.
Two people belonging to one family were injured in Makwal and transported to Sialkot’s Combined Military Hospital by Rescue 1122 personnel.
Four of another family were injured in Kothaychak and rushed to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital (THQ) Shakargarh from three victims were shifted to District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) Narowal, Rangers sources said.
Those injured in Makwal were identified as Abdul Sattar and Abdul Jabbar.
Those injured Kothaychak have been identified as Haider Ali, who is in THQ Shakargarh, and Hameeda, Rashda and Ashraf, who are in DHQ Narowal, according to Rangers sources.
Two civilians have been injured during overnight cross-border firing in the Samba sector along the Line of Control according to Indian media reports.
The ceasefire violations come just days after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during an official visit to Washington apprised United States Secretary of State John Kerry about the destabilising role being played by Indian intelligence agencies in Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Balochistan and Karachi.
Three separate dossiers containing evidence of Indian involvement in subversive activities were also handed over to the US by Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz.
During his meeting with US President Barack Obama, Nawaz Sharif had also agreed to take effective action against all terrorist groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba. Pakistan had also agreed to ensure that all Taliban groups, including the Haqqani Network, “are unable to operate from the soil of Pakistan”.
Nawaz and Obama had expressed concern over violence along the LoC, and noted their “support for confidence-building measures and effective mechanisms that are acceptable” to both India and Pakistan.
“While refusing dialogue, India is engaged in a major arms buildup, regrettably with the active assistance of several powers,” Nawaz had said last week during an address to the US Institute for Peace.
“It has adopted dangerous military doctrines. This will compel Pakistan to take several countermeasures to preserve credible deterrence.”
“Obviously the Pakistan-India relationship poses the most difficult and urgent challenge,” the Prime Minister had said.
Earlier this year, incidences of ceasefire violations across the LoC rose sharply, prompting the Pakistan Army to register a complaint with the United Nations Military Observers group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).
The UNMOGIP sent a fact-finding team to Saleh Pur, Chaprar and Malane in Chaprar Sector near the working boundary.
Tensions along the LoC began flaring up again despite an hour-long meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Ufa, Russia in July.
After cross-border firing took place along the LoC on Eidul Fitr, the Foreign Office lodged a strong protest with India over what it referred to as the “offensive posture” of Indian security forces and a provocative act against the spirit of the Ufa understanding.
