<p>The sudden spurt in firing by Pakistani border guards along the Jammu and Kashmir border is aimed at pushing militants as well as narcotics smugglers into India, say experts.<br /><br />And the firing is concentrated on the international border -- as opposed to the Line of Control (LoC) -- as it is plain in nature and where infiltration is easier during rainy season. <br /><br />"The international border becomes porous during rains due to breaches triggered by floods in rivers and water channels," an expert said. Moreover, wild vegetation provides natural camouflage to infiltrators."<br /><br />India has erected a three-tier barbed wire fence to prevent infiltration of terrorists and smugglers from Pakistan. This fence too gets damaged due to heavy rains or snow in winters.<br /><br />The international border is about 200 km long and the LoC covers 720 km.<br /><br />Pakistan has been almost continuously firing along the international frontier since Aug 5 in which one Border Security Force (BSF) trooper and an intruder have been killed.<br />The firing has caused panic in villages close to the border. <br /><br />Experts and military officials say the firing was stepped up after India discovered a 500 metre long underground tunnel originating in Pakistan and leading into India July 28.<br />The experts told IANS that Pakistan was adopting the "fire and move method" tactic.</p>.<p>"They are firing at our positions to keep Indian troopers engaged so that militants and smugglers can sneak in unnoticed," an official said.</p>.<p>The experts feel that heightened vigil of the Indian Army with the help of sophisticated gadgets along the mountainous LoC has prompted Pakistan to shift focus on the international border. <br /><br />The international border is guarded by the Border Security Force (BSF). </p>.<p>An army official said: "We have had almost no infiltration from LOC in Jammu region (south of Pir Panjal mountain range) this year." </p>.<p>After a 2003 ceasefire, life in border areas had returned to normalcy with villagers freely engaging in cattle rearing and farming. Schools also functioned normally.<br />Before that, constant firing hit hard villagers. Farming and cattle rearing was near impossible, and schools were shut.</p>.<p>Once again, farmers are scared of going to the fields hugging the border.<br />Govind Ram of Arnia village has not tended his field for the last two days as he got trapped in Pakistani firing. </p>.<p>"We were working in our fields when suddenly Pakistanis started firing. Six of us lay flat on the ground behind a tree for five hours and returned home late in the evening."<br />About 20 villages along the international border have been affected now due to renewed firing between the BSF and Pakistan Rangers.</p>.<p>Many houses in Indian villages are again getting hit by Pakistani bullets.<br />Ram Prakash of Abdullian village remembers the earlier days. <br /><br />"Before the ceasefire our life was like that of animals," moaned Ram Prakash of Abdullian village. "We had to frequently migrate to safer areas in the interior for shelter. <br />"It (firing) would be from both the sides claiming not only human lives but our cattle too besides damaging our properties." <br /><br />He fears that their lives "will become miserable again" if "such firing keeps happening". </p>
<p>The sudden spurt in firing by Pakistani border guards along the Jammu and Kashmir border is aimed at pushing militants as well as narcotics smugglers into India, say experts.<br /><br />And the firing is concentrated on the international border -- as opposed to the Line of Control (LoC) -- as it is plain in nature and where infiltration is easier during rainy season. <br /><br />"The international border becomes porous during rains due to breaches triggered by floods in rivers and water channels," an expert said. Moreover, wild vegetation provides natural camouflage to infiltrators."<br /><br />India has erected a three-tier barbed wire fence to prevent infiltration of terrorists and smugglers from Pakistan. This fence too gets damaged due to heavy rains or snow in winters.<br /><br />The international border is about 200 km long and the LoC covers 720 km.<br /><br />Pakistan has been almost continuously firing along the international frontier since Aug 5 in which one Border Security Force (BSF) trooper and an intruder have been killed.<br />The firing has caused panic in villages close to the border. <br /><br />Experts and military officials say the firing was stepped up after India discovered a 500 metre long underground tunnel originating in Pakistan and leading into India July 28.<br />The experts told IANS that Pakistan was adopting the "fire and move method" tactic.</p>.<p>"They are firing at our positions to keep Indian troopers engaged so that militants and smugglers can sneak in unnoticed," an official said.</p>.<p>The experts feel that heightened vigil of the Indian Army with the help of sophisticated gadgets along the mountainous LoC has prompted Pakistan to shift focus on the international border. <br /><br />The international border is guarded by the Border Security Force (BSF). </p>.<p>An army official said: "We have had almost no infiltration from LOC in Jammu region (south of Pir Panjal mountain range) this year." </p>.<p>After a 2003 ceasefire, life in border areas had returned to normalcy with villagers freely engaging in cattle rearing and farming. Schools also functioned normally.<br />Before that, constant firing hit hard villagers. Farming and cattle rearing was near impossible, and schools were shut.</p>.<p>Once again, farmers are scared of going to the fields hugging the border.<br />Govind Ram of Arnia village has not tended his field for the last two days as he got trapped in Pakistani firing. </p>.<p>"We were working in our fields when suddenly Pakistanis started firing. Six of us lay flat on the ground behind a tree for five hours and returned home late in the evening."<br />About 20 villages along the international border have been affected now due to renewed firing between the BSF and Pakistan Rangers.</p>.<p>Many houses in Indian villages are again getting hit by Pakistani bullets.<br />Ram Prakash of Abdullian village remembers the earlier days. <br /><br />"Before the ceasefire our life was like that of animals," moaned Ram Prakash of Abdullian village. "We had to frequently migrate to safer areas in the interior for shelter. <br />"It (firing) would be from both the sides claiming not only human lives but our cattle too besides damaging our properties." <br /><br />He fears that their lives "will become miserable again" if "such firing keeps happening". </p>