Pakistan on Saturday violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control in North Kashmir’s Uri sector. After the 26/11 Mumbai attacks that saw tensions mounting between the two countries, this is the first time Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged fire on the LoC. The firing, which lasted six hours, left an Indian soldier injured.

The standoff coincided with United States’ statement asking India to withdraw its troops from the border to encourage Pakistan to relocate soldiers to its Afghanistan border to help the US to launch a fresh offensive against the Taliban in Afghanistan and Waziristan.

The Army said Pakistani and Indian troops exchanged fire on the LoC at Madian near Raj Kanyari post in Kamalkote sector of Uri. The Army personnel injured in the firing has been identified as Lance Naik Prakash Singh.

Defence spokesman Lt Col J S Brar said that on Friday night, Pakistani troops started firing towards the Indian forward posts in Uri’s Kamalkote sector. “Our troops retaliated with full force and the exchange of fire lasted six hours,” he said. “This is the first ceasefire violation of the year along the LoC. We have already lodged a protest with Pakistan at a local level,” he said, adding the situation is calm on the LoC now.

However, there is tension in the area, especially along the LoC in the nearby Tanghdar sector, where the Army killed four unidentified militants in two encounters since Friday morning.

“The search operation continues in the forests of Tanghdar, where the encounters took place,” the spokesman said.

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