In a “heavy retribution” for the killing of three of its soldiers and mutilation of one of the soldier by Pakistanis who have crossed the Line of Control in the Machil sector of north Kashmir, the Indian Army has launched a fire assault against Pakistani posts at different points along the LoC. Pakistan has lost three Army personnel, including a Captain and nine civilians were killed. Another nine were injured when Indian fire had hit a bus on the Neelum Valley road in the Dudhnial sector in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The Ministry of Defence said that Lt General Ranbir Singh, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), spoke to his Pakistan counterpart Major General Sahir Shamshad Mirza following a Pakistani request.

Major General Mirza had informed Lt General Singh about the civilian casualties on the Pakistani side of the LoC. Lt General Singh expressed grief over the civilian casualties but had said that retaliatory firing by Indian troops are targeted only at locations from where Pakistan had initiated ceasefire violations.

Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah was summoned by Gopal Baglay, Joint Secretary (in-charge of Pakistan) in the Ministry of External Affairs and conveyed India’s strong reaction to the continued ceasefire violations and mutilation of bodies of its soldiers. But, Shah protested “the recent spate of unprovoked Indian firing and shelling”.

Violence had escalated sharply after the surgical strikes on the night of September 28, with 12 military personnel and 12 civilians recorded killed in 279 exchanges of fire recorded until November 15.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has termed the incidents as “naked aggression” and “unprovoked firing” by India across the LoC which has resulted in the death of civilians and soldiers and had said that India had failed to comprehend the gravity of the situation.

By Premji