'China wants to change the status quo of India's Northern Border and proves that it can do whatever it wants in what it perceives as its own territory,' states Claude Arpi.
Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing in the Mendhar sector of the Line of Control in the Poonch district of Jammu region on Friday morning.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that commitment by Indian and Chinese leaderships to maintain peace and tranquillity at borders pending boundary settlement is an important guarantor for further progress in Sino-Indian ties, particularly growth of 2.5 billion people.
The defence minister visited the forward areas at a time when China is upgrading its infrastructure along the border.
The Pakistan army troops on Thursday pounded civilian areas along the Line of Control by violating ceasefire for the ninth time in four days resulting in injuries to four people, prompting retaliation from Indian troops.
"Pakistani Rangers fired few bullets warning troops working ahead of the fence in Arnia area in Jammu. Our troops retaliated with few rounds of fire this morning", a senior BSF officer said. "They also fired mortar shells. Some exchange of mortar shells also took place", he said.
'India has to ensure its borders are properly sealed and there is no infiltration from PoK.
The heavy shelling took place in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts.
'...through the will of the people and commitment of leaders.' 'It may not happen today or tomorrow, but it will happen.'
Did the ISI choose the Rajasthan border to smuggle narcotics after striking deals with Indian smugglers, who would send the money to various terrorist groups in Kashmir?
Indian troops also fired in retaliation and the firing stopped from both sides around 1 pm
The decision was taken during the annual 19th round of boundary talks in Beijing between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi.
Pakistan will "feel the pain" of "adventurism" if it persists with ceasefire violations, India warned today as it said the country now has "sword" along with "shield" which existed earlier.
Here's a recap of the events from the past 24 hours.
He said around 500 infiltrators were waiting to infiltrate into the country.
Pakistani troops on Friday resorted to mortar shelling and firing on the Line of Control in Jammu district, the second ceasefire violation in two days ahead of a crucial meeting of the Directors General of Military Operations of the two sides aimed at easing tensions along the ceasefire line.
Over the last few weeks, bipartisan support for India against China has been increasing.
The Pakistani troops were seen firing mortars and missiles from civilian houses, using villagers as human shields. The Pakistani army used heavy weaponry, firing 120-mm mortar targeting civilian hamlets.
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang will travel to India to attend the meeting of G20 foreign ministers on March 2, during which he is expected to hold his first bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
In a major ceasefire violation along the Line of Control, Pakistan Army on Saturday targeted 22 Border Security Force posts near the international border in R S Pura sector and Arania sub sector, killing two civilians and injuring four.
There has been firing by Pakistani troops along the LoC in Nowshera sector since 8:45 am, a senior army officer said.
Nine persons have been killed so far in ceasefire violations over three days, police officials said.
'The world is watching carefully. The choices India makes today have consequences beyond its borders.'
The ceasefire violation coincides with Home Minister Rajnath Singh's four-day visit to the state.
China on Tuesday announced that its Defence Minister General Li Shangfu will visit India this week to attend the meeting of SCO defence ministers from April 27 during which he is expected to hold talks with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh on ending the prolonged eastern Ladakh standoff which has severely strained bilateral ties.
Barely a week after Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan broke the deadlock and decided to re-engage, the two countries were back to a blame game over ceasefire violations with both sides lodging protest with each other.
Pakistan-based terrorist groups are continuously trying to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir by taking advantage of cross-border firing as they aim to carry out "spectacular attacks" ahead of US President Barack Obama's visit to India, according to security agencies.
The mortar shelling and small arms firing from across the border was intense in Shahpur, Kirni and Qasba sectors along the LoC in Poonch district.
There was no firing or hostile action by any side during the incident which occurred between 9.45 am and 10 am, they said
Manmohan Singh and Musharraf felt that what they were embarking upon, if successful, could lead to a future of boundless potential for the two countries and for the relationship that was hard to foresee from the prism of the existing situation and the historical position and orthodox ideas on both sides.
Warning that the 24-hour long lull on the border can take "any turn any time", the Border Security Force on Sunday said that it was fully prepared to deal with any eventuality and any border build-up by the Pakistani side on the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir.
The appointments committee of the cabinet headed by the prime minister had on October 1 issued the order for the appointment of Singh who has service till December 2024.
The US House of Representatives and the Senate on Tuesday passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included key components of Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi's resolution language urging the Chinese government to end its military aggression against India along the LAC.
With the Indian Army having blocked the PLA several kilometres inside India, hundreds of soldiers from both sides remain in a tense face-off.
'My understanding is that by the time President Xi Jinping came for the Chennai summit [2019], he had already instructed his army to undertake the action in Galwan in the summer of 2020.'
Pakistan Rangers resorted to ceasefire violations by targeting civilian population in RS Pura sector in Jammu.
Pakistan on Friday handed over to India a BSF jawan who was captured by Pakistan Rangers after he was swept away into their territory by strong currents of Chenab river.
Pakistani troops violated ceasefire and opened fire at Indian posts on Monday along the Line of Control in Poonch district, the fourth violation in July.
Qin, who is visiting New Delhi to attend the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting on Thursday, is expected to meet Jaishankar on its sidelines though the foreign ministry here is tight-lipped about it.
