J&K: Pakistan Rangers halt shelling along international border in Arnia

The Pakistani firing came in the area where army troops had foiled an infiltration attempt killing a terrorist few days back.

After targeting Indian positions along the international border in Arnia sector throughout the night, Pakistani guns fell silent on Monday morning.

“There has been no firing since 5 am,” a BSF spokesperson said. Pointing out that Pakistani Rangers continued firing at intermittent intervals all night, he said said that nearly half a dozen BSF border out posts were affected.

Initially the firing was confined to only small arms fire, but Rangers later started firing 82 mm mortars, sources said, adding that BSF retaliated befittingly.

On Sunday evening, Rangers had suddenly open fire on BSF posts in Arnia sector without any provocation. The firing which initially was confined only to Pittal post later spread to nearly half a dozen BSF border out posts.

Sources attributed the Sunday firing by Pakistan to desperation among Rangers to push in armed terrorists to the Indian side especially when Amarnath yatra has been going on smoothly for the last five days. Nearly 40,000 pilgrims so far have darshan at Amarnath shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas.

Significantly, it has been first time since last October that Pakistan Rangers have resorted to mortar shelling on forward Indian posts along the international border in Arnia sector. Last year, they had lobbed mortar shells even on civilian areas killing over half a dozen civilians and injuring many others at various places.

As Rangers continued targeting civilian areas forcing migration, the BSF retaliated. The exchange of firing between two sides continued for nearly a month making Pakistan approach even UN for intervention so as to ensure peace on the borders.

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