Girl injured in Pakistani firing along LoC

A teenage girl was injured after Pakistani Army fired from small arms along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.

"The Pakistan army resorted to unprovoked and indiscriminate firing on Indian Army posts at Karmara sector along the LoC in Poonch district, injuring a 13-year-old girl," an official said.

She was shifted to a hospital, he said and added that the Indian army retaliated effectively and strongly.

It was a fresh border firing between the two countries after a lull following weeks of heavy exchange of fire on the LoC and the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir earlier this month.

There has been a sharp rise in the ceasefire violations by Pakistan this year with 600 violations reported till the start of this month. Nine civilians and 16 security personnel were killed in these incidents. The number of violations was significantly less at 228 for the entire 2016, according to the army figures.

A senior army officer said they expect the ceasefire violations to continue as Pakistan has been relentlessly trying to push heavily armed militants into India.

"However, well aware of the new strategy of Pakistan we have strengthened anti-infiltration grid. Whenever the militants try to infiltrate, they would be either killed or forced to retreat," he added.

Due to the rising tensions, the cross-LoC bus and trade services between Poonch-Rawlakote route has been suspended since July 10 this year. Poonch residents engaged in barter trade between the two sides have claimed that they suffered an estimated loss of Rs 63 crore following the trade suspension.