Pakistan violates ceasefire as Manmohan returns after meeting Sharif

Pakistani troops fired at Indian positions on the line of control (LOC) in Mendhar sector of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir, in yet another violation of the bilateral ceasefire, a defence spokesman said Wednesday.

"Pakistan troops used small arms and automatics to target our positions in Mendhar sector of the LOC yesterday (Tuesday). Pakistan firing started at 2.30 p.m.," Captain S.N. Acharya, defence spokesman, told IANS here today.

"Our troops retaliated with same calibre weapons and the exchange of firing continued up to 3.30 p.m. No damage was caused to our troops in this firing exchange," the spokesman added.

The unprovoked firing by Pakistan troops in yet another violation of the bilateral ceasefire  agreement signed by India and Pakistan in November 2003 has coincided with the return of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from the US where he met his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif.

The two prime ministers had agreed to work out a more effective mechanism to stop ceasefire  violations on the borders between the two countries in divided Kashmir.