Jammu:
Pakistani troops opened fire at five Indian posts along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir last night, violating the ceasefire for the eighth time in 24 hours amid a controversy over Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's remarks hinting at seeking US intervention on Kashmir.
An officer of the Border Security Force or BSF said Pakistani rangers targeted border posts in RS Pura sub-sector at around 8.30 pm, firing first with small arms and later with mortars and rockets. The BSF troops retaliated immediately.
On Saturday, Pakistani troops had pounded 14 Indian posts and civilian areas in Jammu frontier with mortar shells, leaving two BSF jawans injured. There have been over 150 violations of the 2003 ceasefire agreement by Pakistan in the last two months.
The relentless attacks coincide with Nawaz Sharif's four-day visit to the US, where he hinted at seeking US intervention in resolving the Kashmir issue.
Mr Sharif was quoted in agency reports as saying that that during his US visit in July 1999 amid the Kargil conflict, he had told then President Bill Clinton that "if he spends 10 per cent of the time he was spending on Middle East, the Kashmir issue between two countries would be resolved."
The Obama administration reacted by saying there had not been an "iota of change" on its policy on Kashmir which considers it a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan.
Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid outright rejected Mr Sharif's comment, saying, "Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India - there is no question of anybody interfering with this idea. The US knows this very well."
India says it will assess the situation arising out of the sharp increase in ceasefire violations, but for the time being, it will leave it to the two directors general of military operations (DGMOs) who have been asked to restore peace.
An officer of the Border Security Force or BSF said Pakistani rangers targeted border posts in RS Pura sub-sector at around 8.30 pm, firing first with small arms and later with mortars and rockets. The BSF troops retaliated immediately.
On Saturday, Pakistani troops had pounded 14 Indian posts and civilian areas in Jammu frontier with mortar shells, leaving two BSF jawans injured. There have been over 150 violations of the 2003 ceasefire agreement by Pakistan in the last two months.
The relentless attacks coincide with Nawaz Sharif's four-day visit to the US, where he hinted at seeking US intervention in resolving the Kashmir issue.
Mr Sharif was quoted in agency reports as saying that that during his US visit in July 1999 amid the Kargil conflict, he had told then President Bill Clinton that "if he spends 10 per cent of the time he was spending on Middle East, the Kashmir issue between two countries would be resolved."
The Obama administration reacted by saying there had not been an "iota of change" on its policy on Kashmir which considers it a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan.
Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid outright rejected Mr Sharif's comment, saying, "Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India - there is no question of anybody interfering with this idea. The US knows this very well."
India says it will assess the situation arising out of the sharp increase in ceasefire violations, but for the time being, it will leave it to the two directors general of military operations (DGMOs) who have been asked to restore peace.
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