Pakistani, Indian troops trade fire at working boundary

ISPR says India’s BSF resorted to unprovoked firing in Shakargarh sector


Our Correspondent October 22, 2016
Indian Border Security Force soldiers patrol near the India-Pakistan international border fence. PHOTO: AP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani and Indian border guards exchanged fire along the working boundary on Friday in the latest sign of ruptured relations between the two neighbours.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said India’s Border Security Force (BSF) resorted to ‘unprovoked firing’ on the working boundary in the Shakargarh sector. “Pakistani Rangers befittingly responded. No loss on the Pakistani side,” the military’s media wing added.

One civilian killed, five injured in Indian firing along LoC

However, the Indian BSF claimed that it killed at least seven Pakistani rangers and militant in what it said was ‘retaliatory’ firing following a ceasefire violation along the international border in the Kathua district of Kashmir. A BSF trooper was also wounded in the skirmish, Hindustan Times reported.

ISPR Director General Lt-Gen Asim Salim Bajwa termed the Indian claim of killing Rangers as baseless. “Indian claim of hitting or killing any Pakistani soldier/Ranger with firing at anytime of today (Friday) at LoC/working boundary is absolutely false,” Lt-Gen Bajwa said in a tweet.

Pakistan rejects Indian claim of killing Rangers personnel along LoC

The Indian officialdom has continuously been lying since the Sept 18 deadly attack on a military base in Uri to soothe frayed tempers. First, New Delhi blamed Pakistan-based militants for the assault, though it didn’t have any evidence to substantiate its claim. Then it claimed that Indian troops had conducted ‘surgical strikes’ against militant camps on the Pakistani side of Kashmir.

The claim blew up in the face of the Modi administration when Pakistani military took local and foreign journalists on a rare visit to the Line of Control in Kashmir to expose New Delhi’s claim. The international media also cast doubts on the Indian claim, while at home too Indian opposition politicians started questioning the ‘farcical strikes’ when the euphoria dissipated.

Pakistan responds to India’s ‘unprovoked’ firing at Working Boundary in Punjab

In this backdrop, Friday’s claim of the Indian military that they had killed Pakistani border guards cannot be taken without a pinch of salt.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22nd, 2016.

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