Pak Opens Fire To Facilitate Infiltration In Kashmir's Poonch, 2 Soldiers Die

Srinagar: As Pakistan violated ceasefire again to facilitate infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir -- in which two soldiers died and two others were injured - Union home minister Rajnath Singh sounded a warning to the neighbouring country, saying "look us in the eye and fight us. We will emerge victorious".

In a reference to the surgical strikes conducted by the Indian army in September 29, the home minister said, "Now you must have understood... not only can we fight you in our backyard, we have also gone into your home's and defeated you."

The Pakistani army had opened fire in a bid to facilitate two infiltration bids along the Line of Control in Krishna Ghati and Poonch sectors of Poonch district, the army had said. The infiltration bids were foiled and the army has also inflicted heavy damage to several Pakistani posts across the Line of Control in Poonch sector, the army had added. Three civilians - two of them women - have also been injured in the shelling.

"One soldier was killed in Krishna Ghati sector earlier in the day while foiling infiltration bids, another soldier was killed and two others were injured in cross-border firing in the Poonch sector," a senior army officer said.

Security forces had also stopped two infiltration attempts by terrorists in the area since Saturday night. Army spokesperson Lt Col Manish Mehta said Pakistani forces provided cover fire for the second attempt.

"We are giving a fitting response. Will hit them where it hurts the most. It is very unprofessional act of the Pakistan army to target our residential areas," he said.

At least four places came under indiscriminate shelling and firing which has started at 8:40 a.m. targeting civil and defence facilities in the area, a police official said.

In last two weeks, eight soldiers have been killed in Pakistani firing. Eight civilians were killed in firing by Pakistan across the International Border and Line of Control last week.

Since India's surgical strikes on staging areas for terrorists in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on September 29, Pakistan has violated the ceasefire more than 60 times firing at Indian military posts and villages.

Indian forces have said they have responded to the firing with appropriate force killing dozens of Pakistani troops.