Indian, Pakistani troops exchange gunfire, not sweets on Eid

When talks re-start, Pakistan will have to extend the non-discriminatory market access (NDMA) status to India (the earlier term “most favoured nation” has been discarded because of political reasons), which basically means that it will treat India the same as its other trading partners by allowing all goods to be imported.

Speaking to journalists, the FO spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah stated that unprovoked firing from Indian Security forces is a violation of the spirit of understanding that was established at Ufa.

Pakistan army used 82 MM mortar shells, RPG, PIKA and MMG fire as they targeted two Indian villages of Jutrian and Kasba in the Poonch sector, a senior Army officer said. Islamabad blamed Indian troops for the incident. On the other hand, the men were from Shahpur village.

The thaw in ties between India and Pakistan, brought about by a meeting of prime ministers of the two countries in the Russian city of Ufa lasted less than a handful of days – thanks mainly due to rhetoric from the Pakistani side and violations of a 2003 ceasefire pact on the border.

Mehta said that at 9.25pm, Pak troops opened small arms fire on Indian troops deployed in forward posts in Nowshera sector.

The fact that there was no let-up in the ceasefire violations along the border showed the Pakistani army, known to determine policy vis a vis India besides Afghanistan and the United States, was not supportive of the peace process with India.

At least three people, including a woman, were injured in clashes that broke out between a mob and the security forces after the Eid prayers in this Jammu and Kashmir summer capital, police said. Firing was still going on.

The LoC on both sides is guarded by troops of the two countries. The ding dong battle continued for few hours before the order was restored in the area.

A group of around 50 youth indulged in stone-pelting at Lal Chowk in Anantnag area of south Kashmir but were chased away by the police, he added.

Reports of hosting flags of the neighbouring country were also received from many interior localities of the city and elsewhere in Kashmir.

BJP, which is a coalition partner of the ruling PDP, said the youth who are waving the flags are trying to attract the media attention.