Pakistan, India Agree to Halt Border Clashes

Even as the mortar matches along the worldwide border and Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir have become a new norm, the verbal volleys between India and Pakistan have kept pace with the machine-gun firing by becoming more high-pitched and suffused with rhetorical flourishes that both amuse and anger.

In a statement, the military said Pakistani troops responded after coming under attack in Pakistan’s part of Kashmir.

The Indian troops fired small arms, mortar shells and rockets on Monday afternoon.

No comment from the Pakistani side is immediately available.

According to an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement, Indian troops resorted to unprovoked shelling and firing in Nakial sector. Neither side wants to give any quarter to the other, and doesn’t feel satisfied unless it pays back the other in the same coin.

Pakistan denies giving material support to the Kashmir militants, but blames India for refusing to hold talks to resolve the 68-year-old territorial dispute.

There has been no let up in the cease-fire violations on LoC despite an agreement signed by India and Pakistan on Saturday to maintain peace and tranquillity on the border.

Ceasefire violations along the Working Boundary were discussed at length and it was agreed that all necessary measures will be ensured to avoid such incidents in the future to save the lives of innocent civilians. No casualties or injuries were reported from the area. The region is divided between them but claimed by both it in its entirety.

Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.