Troops exchange fire along Indo-Pak border

SrinagarThe five-year ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan was again violated by Pakistan on Wednesday. Another incidence of firing was reported near the Line of Control (LOC) in Kashmir.

Defence personnel confirmed that the Nowgam sector of north Kashmir's Kupwara district was the scene of the breach of the fragile agreement.

It is the third cross-border firing incident since last month.

There was no casualty on the Indian side on the Wednesday morning incidence.

But one Indian army trooper was killed and two others were injured in Pakistan army firing in the same sector last month.

Director General of the Border Security Force A K Mitra has warned that Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) is just waiting for an opportunity to slip in a large number of militants into the Indian side.

“There are very strong indications that a large number of militants have gathered on the other side of the border, looking for a suitable opportunity to enter into the country,” said the DG of BSF.

And India is prepared to counter such transgressions assures A K Mitra.

”We have strengthened the deployment of the forces. Apart from that the fences have been strengthened. We have put early warning devices and we are going more and more for technology to strengthen our surveillance on the border,” he provides.

Indian and Pakistan army troops have been holding on to a bilateral ceasefire since November 2003.

The fresh firing comes days after army commanders of the two countries met to end the clashes that are threatening the agreement.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony recently said there were 21 ceasefire violations along the LoC since January this year.