The sharp increase in firing between Indian and Pakistani posts on the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir raises the question: is the decade-old ceasefire of 2003 dead? If one side or both are staging cross-border raids and fire is being exchanged daily, it might seem that the ceasefire has irretrievably broken down, even if New Delhi and Islamabad have not acknowledged that, says Ajai Shukla
'I owe India an apology, as when she suffered the Mumbai Terror attack on November 26, 2008, when Jews and Americans were singled out for death by Pakistan based Terrorists, I joined in arguing for restraint. I was wrong'
Apprehending attack by Pakistan's Border Action Team on forward posts and patrol parties in the run up to Republic Day, Army has sounded an alert along the boundary with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir.
Ceasefire violations by Pakistan Rangers continued on Thursday with 60 Indian border outposts and over 80 villages coming under mortar shelling and firing in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts along the International Border.
'We are alive only because of these border bunkers,' say residents.
The Army, in its statement, has vowed to give a befitting reply to Pakistan "in the same language".
BSF troops guarding over 180 km of IB with Pakistan have strengthened their observation posts and 'listening posts' to keep a close watch against any intrusion by drones.
Noting that Pakistan's Prime Minister-elect Nawaz Sharif appears to be sincere in his effort to improve relationship with India, a former top American diplomat has said he might not be able to do much unless he brings on board the powerful military.
The sources said intelligence-based targeted strikes are being conducted by the Indian Army to neutralise mostly Pakistani and foreign terrorists, and the collateral damage has been very negligible in these operations.
In the fifth incident of ceasefire violence within a week, a Border Security Force jawan was on Saturday injured after Pakistani troops opened fire on Indian posts along the Indo-Pak border in Arnia sector of Jammu district. "There was cross-border heavy firing on Indian posts of Pindi and Pital along the International Border in Arnia sector of Jammu district around 4.30 pm today," said Deputy Inspector General, BSF, J S Oberoi.
Pakistan has got the message that the Modi regime in New Delhi has brought in a new language of dialogue with Islamabad, sources well informed about the preparation for the Kathmandu meeting tell Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com
Exercising self-defence is a nation's primary right when a situation demands 'immediate and proportionate action' and applies also to attacks by non-state actors, India told a United Nations meeting, highlighting several proxy cross-border and state-supported terrorist attacks like the 26/11 Mumbai assault the country was subjected to from its neighbour.
New Delhi's decision not to call for a flag meeting underlines its conviction that the military cost will soon become too high for Pakistan.
In yet another ceasefire violation, Pakistan troops opened unprovoked firing on Indian posts along the international border in Jammu district on Friday morning.
At least 2-3 Pakistani armymen are believed to have been killed on Tuesday in the retaliatory firing by Indian troops in the Noushera sector of Rajouri district while seven women, including six members of a family, were injured in R S Pura sector of Jammu district in cross-border shelling.
Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag on Wednesday visited the Nagrota-based 16 Corps headquarters and was briefed about Tuesday's terror attack in which seven officers and jawans were killed, even as combing operation to flush out any remaining militant continued.
'Women have 100 per cent inclusion in the health sector. They are also teaching in the education sector. They are working in each and every one of those sectors where they are required'
Over 40,000 villagers decided to leave their home along the India-Pakistan border
Taking a tough stance over continued firing, ceasefire violations and infiltration bids from across the International Border, Border Security Force on Wednesday warned Pakistan Rangers of 'counter-action.'
'Pakistan has robust incentive to turn heat on LoC.'
A realistic assessment will tell us that not much has changed between India and Pakistan; the relationship remains as fraught as before with little prospect of reconciliation, notes Ajai Shukla.
Against the backdrop of growing tensions over cross-border attacks by rebels, Pakistan on Monday accused about 60 Afghan soldiers of crossing into the country and triggering clashes that killed two tribesman.
Stepping up its attempts to internationalise the Kashmir issue, Pakistan has written to the UN chief on the security situation along the LoC and the International Border with India and sought the world body's intervention in resolving the issue.
Major Rohit Suri and Naib Subedar Vijay Kumar were honoured at a military investiture ceremony.
Pakistan and United States find themselves at odds with each other again with Islamabad rejecting the American probe into the deadly North Atlantic Treaty Organisation cross border strike that left 24 Pakistani soldiers dead and Washington standing by it "100 per cent".
Pakistani Rangers using 81 mm and 82 mm mortars have targeted 30 Border Outposts of the Border Security Force in Hiranagar, Kathua and Ramgarh sectors of Jammu and Kashmir.
The army also stated that allocation of Rs 21,338 crore for modernisation is insufficient.
'As India and Pakistan observe the 50th anniversary of the 1965 war, the one lesson that ought to have been learned by Pakistan is how vulnerable its heartland is to a sudden attack. The only alternative to this inherent geographic weakness is to have a policy of peace with India. In an extreme scenario, India can destroy Pakistani strategic targets by just artillery shelling, crossing of the border is not even necessary,' Colonel Anil A Athale (retd)
Dismissing the remarks by the Pakistani military on the November 26 deadly NATO cross border strike, the United States on Monday said it stands by its own investigation that it was not an unprovoked firing by the US-led forces.
Three Pakistani soldiers were killed and another three injured when North Aatlantic Treaty Organisation helicopters shelled a Pakistani outpost in the restive tribal belt bordering Afghanistan on Thursday, in the fourth cross-border attack into Pakistan in less than a week.
A salvo from a Pinaka battery brings down on the enemy more than seven tonnes of high explosive in just 44 seconds.
Suspected Bangladeshi nationals attacked a border outpost in Meghalaya, assaulted 2 BSF jawans and snatched their weapons on Wednesday night. Another group from the neighbouring country barged into the house of a Meghalaya resident and looted money.
An effortless artist at all times, Surekha Sikri's emotional eloquence and authoritative presence showed a knack for turning moments into meaning.
Pakistani army targeted Indian military positions along the Line of Control in Poonch area of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, in yet another ceasefire violation.
After initial 'zero infiltration' in the wake of renewed ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan in February, fresh attempts are on to push terrorists from across the border where 250 to 300 terrorists are trained and waiting on the launch pads, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbag Singh said on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems to have secured a rare concession from Pakistan that 'terrorism' and not the issue of Kashmir be the central theme of the India-Pakistan dialogue.
AAP will have to learn to be patient as such electoral changes do not happen in a hurry, asserts Ramesh Menon.
'When the Indian Army carries out anti-infiltration ops, the Pakistan army willy-nilly will get involved in some way. So, it is imperative for the Pakistan army to act against militant groups.'
BSF chief K K Sharma said Pakistani forces are deliberately trying to "create a flash point" to facilitate infiltration of terrorists into India and asserted that these designs will be foiled.
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