Pak Army responds to ‘unprovoked’ firing

Indian border troops resorted to “unprovoked” firing along the Line of Control (LoC) late on Wednesday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. “Indian troops resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation along LoC in Nakyal and Kayani sectors with heavy weapons and mortars,” said the ISPR statement. The statement made no mention of any casualties. “Pakistan army responded effectively on Indian posts to silent guns targeting civilians,” read the ISPR statement. The latest incident of cross-border firing comes days after two individuals were killed and six others injured when Indian troops resorted to unprovoked firing along the LoC. Tense relations Incidents of cross-border firing have become a norm since the last months of 2016 as tensions simmer between Pakistan and India over the Kashmir issue. Exchanges of fire have been reported sporadically since the new year began. Following the Uri army base attack in September, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stepped up a drive to ‘isolate’ Pakistan diplomatically.In the days following the attack, India claimed to have conducted a cross-border ‘surgical strike’ against ‘launch pads of terror’ in Azad Jammu and Kashmir — a claim Pakistan strongly rejected. Pakistan maintains that India has been attempting to divert the world’s attention away from atrocities committed by government forces in India-held Kashmir. Tensions between the two countries soared recently as India approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to secure consular access for Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a Field General Court Martial (FGCM) in Pakistan over his involvement in espionage and terrorism.In a hearing of the case on May 18, a 10-member bench at The Hague restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav, who India claims is a retired naval officer.