JOIN USDays after 10 Indian soldiers were killed in two separate strikes from the Pakistan Army and Pak-backed terrorists, the Indian Army is understood to have launched a massive fire-assault on Pakistani posts and terror camps across the disputed boundary between the two countries.
While there is no official word from the Indian side on the offensive, the Pakistan Foreign Office in Islamabad issued a press statement condemning India for "unprovoked ceasefire violations" on Thursday in the Battal sector and "targeting the civilians".
According to sources, the army used its posts at Balnoi, Sarla, Mendhar, Laleali, Doda, Banwat, Kalal and Karen to launch the fire assaults, predominantly targeting the terrorists hiding in those camps.
"Indian Army has been doing pro-active operations along the LoC due to ongoing ceasefire violations and due to reports of 180 to 200 terrorists waiting to cross to the south of the Pir Panjal ranges, which includes areas of Poonch, Rajouri, Mendhar," army sources said.
"A similar number of terrorists (180-200) are ready to cross the LoC to the north of Pir Panjal ranges. In the action by the army, Pakistan has suffered 20 casualties and seven more were injured in 2018. This number was 138 casualties in 2017, with 156 people getting injured," they said.
The fire assault comes nearly 10 days after Vice Chief Lt Gen Sarath Chand said that the army would give a "befitting reply" to the unprovoked ceasefire violations that killed Captain Kapil Kundu and three other soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district on February 5.
"That (retaliation) goes without saying, I think I don't have to say that. (Our) action will speak for itself," Chand had said.
Subsequently, there was another terror attack on the Sunjuwan military camp in Jammu that led to killing of six armymen and a civilian, after which Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Pakistan would pay the price for it.
Pakistan Foreign Office claimed there were 335 ceasefire violations from the Indian side since January 2018.
On February 7, the defence ministry informed the Parliament that there were 192 ceasefire violations (till January 29) from the Pakistani side along the Line of Control.