Muslim Majority Pakistan and Hindu Majority India Exchange Gunfire, Not

Though some violations have been reported on both sides, the cease-fire however remains in effect.

According to Mansingh, firing across the borders “takes place when Pakistani forces wants to provide covering fire to the infiltrators (militants coming into Kashmir)”. “Talks are on track”.

Earlier, government sources said security agencies have identified the youths engaged in hoisting Pakistani flags in the Valley. It said it responded with its own barrage to the “unprovoked firing” by India.

Border guarding forces of the two countries have been following a tradition of exchanging candies on festivals at the worldwide Border in Jammu and along the Attari-Wagah border in Amritsar in Punjab. The first meeting between DGs of BSF and Pakistan Rangers will be held on September 9-13.

Troops on both sides have repeatedly exchanged gunfire and mortar shells in recent days.

“Troops on our side of LoC are retaliating appropriately to firing from Pakistan“, reads a statement issued by Indian military spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta.

Pakistan army on Saturday accused the Border Security Force (BSF) of resorting to “unprovoked” firing along the Line of Control (LoC) near Nezapir sector of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Eid. Intermittent firing was still in progress when the last reports came in, he added.

The Opposition Congress, however, on Saturday said India’s Pakistan policy under the Narendra Modi dispensation has become an “international joke”.

Analysts in India are interpreting these comments as a response to a strong public reaction to Sharif seemingly not raising issues of concern to Pakistan with Modi.

Since Pakistan has already removed import ban on more than 6,800 items since the trade normalisation process began in 2011, it will need to import just the 1,203 remaining banned items to grant the NDMA status to India.

The spokesman said that this time four civilians lost their lives on 15 and 16 July when people were busy preparing for the most happy and sacred occasion of Eid ul Fitr. He recalled that Manmohan Singh had not visited Pakistan even once in his ten-year long tenure as Prime Minister.

The day dawned with special prayers for integrity, solidarity and prosperity of Pakistan and early liberation of occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The Centre has taken cognisance of frequent hoisting of Pakistani flags in Jammu and Kashmir, Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said, hinting at action against those involved. “The same incident happened in Srinagar yesterday, when the Prime Minister was in Jammu”, he said.