Fresh assault: Indian BSF resumes firing in Sialkot sector

Chenab Rangers retaliates and manages to silence the gunfire

SIALKOT:

The Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) resumed unprovoked firing in Sialkot on Thursday in Charwa, Sucheetgarh and Bajwat sectors of the working boundary.

Silence had been maintained in the region for the last two days after the UN peacekeeping military observers’ visit to the border villages on August 26.

Among other areas, India shelled Charwa, Beeni, Sulehriyaan, Akhnoor, Behladpur, Gunjiyaal, Gandiyal, Dhamala, Wada Dhamala, Harpal, Bajra Garhi, Morcha Pur, Anula, Dhaliyaan, Kotli Khawaja sectors. The Indian BSF also targeted Chenab Ranger’s Shah Jamal Post in Bajwat and Phooklaiyaan sectors.

According to the senior officials of the Chenab Rangers, the Indian BSF resumed unprovoked and intensified shelling on Sialkot border villages for two hours – from 3am until 5am.

The Chenab Rangers retaliated instantly and managed to silence the Indian guns. No injuries or deaths have been reported, the senior officials added.

The latest reports of firing came a day after Pakistan and India agreed to prevent further tensions along the Line of Control and the working boundary.

Civilians targeted

It is believed that the civilian population in the region was targeted as several houses were damaged in the attack.

Indian shelling spread panic among the villagers. The affected population had only recently started to return to their bullet-riddled houses. They had vacated their villages and moved to safe places after a month of unprovoked firing by India.

Talking points

In an emergency flag meeting held on Wednesday at Sialkot’s working boundary, the local commanders of Chenab Rangers and Indian BSF had discussed cross-border firing which left at least two Pakistani civilians dead and several others injured.

During the meeting the Chenab Rangers commander had strongly protested unprovoked firing and shelling by Indian forces on civilian localities in Pakistan.

They had also brought into notice of the BSF battalion commander the loss of human life and cattle and destruction of public property.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2014.