The Indian and Pakistani armed forces have clashed repeatedly in recent days amid strong tensions over last week's anti-terrorist operation by Indian aircraft over Pakistani territory in Kashmir.
The Indian Army has accused Pakistani forces of violating the fragile ceasefire along multiple points at the Line of Control border between the two countries in the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Ceasefire violation by Pakistan along LoC in Shahpur and Kerni Sectors in Poonch today. From 18:00 hours (Indian Standard Time) onwards, Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by heavy shelling with artillery and small arms fire,” the Army said in a statement Friday.
A police officer in the town of Poonch said an Indian special police officer had been injured in the shelling and taken to local hospital for treatment.
Tensions along the LoC, which serves as the de facto border between India and Pakistan in Kashmir, have been high since last week's Indian Air Force operation to destroy the base of an al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist group which claimed responsibility for a deadly terror attack against Indian troops last month.
On Wednesday, sources in the Indian security establishment accused Pakistan of mobilising additional troops and weaponry along the highly militarised border region, with the Army warning that any provocation would lead to “dire consequences.”
The two sides…
