Offensive against Pakistan

17/01/2018

In a major achievement Indian Army undertook major offensive against Pakistan to silence their guns, which were targeting forward Indian posts on the Line of Control (LoC) in Mendhar sector of Poonch district, killing seven Pakistani soldiers including an officer and critically wounding five others. Five posts and four bunkers of the Pakistani army were destroyed in massive retaliatory action of the Indian troops. As tensions escalated on the LoC, authorities immediately recalled cross-LoC peace bus, which had left Poonch for Rawlakote in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), leaving people from two parts of the divided State, stranded. Action against Pakistani troops, which came on the occasion of ‘Army Day’ was necessitated as the Pakistani posts continued to engage in heavy shelling in Mendhar sector targeting forward posts of the Indian Army and were also planning to strike at civilian areas, which was anticipated as the enemy was dumping large quantity of mortar shells on their side. Major damage was suffered by Pakistan in Jandrot area of Kotli sector, which was being manned by 801 Mujahid battalion of Pakistan army under 3 PoK Brigade. Pakistan’s DG (SA & SAARC) Dr Mohammad Faisal summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh and lodged protest over killing and injuries of Pakistan army personnel.
A day before, an Indian Army jawan was martyred in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district in ceasefire violations by Pakistan. Six Army soldiers including a Major and a BSF jawan have been martyred during fresh ceasefire violations by Pakistan Army on LoC and International Border (IB) during past about 20 days while Pakistani troops have suffered huge casualties, at least two dozens, apart from massive infrastructural losses across both LoC and IB in retaliation by the Indian troops. Pakistani troops violated ceasefire in some other areas also, prompting the Indian side to retaliate effectively, leading to exchanges. Cross-LoC trade and travel, which was launched between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan occupied Kashmir in 2008 and was conceived as major Confidence Building Measure, had remained suspended for nearly three months between July and September last year in view of escalated tensions and ceasefire violations on the LoC including Chakan-Da-Bagh from where the bus and trucks cross over to PoK for Rawlakote from Poonch. Meanwhile, troops have been maintaining very high alert all along the LoC in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri anticipating infiltration attempts by the militants and ceasefire violations by Pakistan army as they were frustrated after suffering heavy casualties and infrastructure damage in the Indian retaliation. The Border Security Force (BSF) was also maintaining high alert all along the International Border from Lakhanpur to Akhnoor.

Photo Gallery

BSE Sensex

NSE Nifty