India readies troops as Pakistan rattles arms across the border

Tension today prevailed along the India, Pakistan border in Jammu and Kashmir where Army was on alert after repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops.

Reportedly, Pakistan is mobilising its troops along the border as well as cancelling all leave of its soldiers, indicating almost the highest level of war preparedness.

"The borderline with Pakistan is tense. But the situation is under control (along Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir)", an Army official said today.

The level of tension has increased after Pakistani troops violated ceasefire continuously and also closed the gates for cross-LoC trade yesterday. The Army is maintaining utmost vigilance along the borderline with Pakistan, he said, adding troops have been asked to remain alert round-the-clock.

"There was no ceasefire violations along Indo-Pak border this morning," Defence spokesman Col R K Palta said.

However, Pakistan troops had violated ceasefire and fired mortars shells and small arms on Indian posts along LoC in Krishnagati sector of Poonch district from 5 pm to 9.30 pm yesterday, the spokesman said.

Indian troops guarding the borderline effectively retaliated resulting in exchanges, he said, adding that there was no casualty or injury to any one in the firing on the Indian side.

Pakistani troops had fired at nine posts -- Chatri, Atma, Helmet, Prakash, Chatyal, Khera-I, Khera-II, Roshni and Gunhill posts in the sector from its posts Kanal, Barmoch, Jungle-1, Jungle-2, Dhamas, Prench, New post, Daruchiymia, Teer, LP-1, LP-2 and LP-3. Yesterday's ceasefire was the third ceasefire violation by Pakistan troops along Poonch sector after they intruded into Indian territory and killed two jawans.

On January 8, Pakistan troops had violated the ceasefire twice after brutally killings Lance Naiks, Hemraj and Sudhakar Singh. In the wake of the incident, Army and BSF have reviewed the security set up along the Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir.

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