J&K: Ceasefire violations by Pakistan double from last year; infiltration bids on rise as well

In 2016, a total 228 ceasefire violations occurred on the Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir in area which is under the operational control of the Indian Army. This year, till October 3, the number of such violations has already more than doubled to 503. This roughly translates to around 56 violations a month on an average, or almost two per day.

In fact, last year’s total figure of 228 ceasefire violations was crossed this year in July itself, underlining the frequency with which Pakistan has engaged in unprovoked firing in violation of the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding between both countries.

As compared to the eight casualties suffered by the Indian Army due to these ceasefire violations in 2016, the number of soldiers killed this year has already touched 14.

Infiltration attempts, too, have witnessed an upswing in Jammu and Kashmir. While 88 attempts infiltration attempts took place in 2016, the number of such bids had already touched 56 by the end of August.

As per official figures, 35 terrorists were killed in 2016 while trying to infiltrate into India. This year, till August, 42 terrorists who were attempting to infiltrate into India have been neutralized.

But it’s not just soldiers who are bearing the brunt of these ceasefire violations. Civilians residing in areas near the Line of Control, too, have been suffering collateral damage.

On October 3, the Indian government summoned Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah and lodged a strong protest at the death of three Indian minor children in unprovoked ceasefire violation by the Pakistan forces in Poonch sector on October 2. India conveyed to Pakistan that such “deliberate targeting of civilians was not acceptable and was against humanitarian norms and practices”.

Such diplomatic protests seem inadequate to deal with these frequent ceasefire violations, more so, when most of them are engineered with the sole purpose of providing covering fire to terrorists infiltrating into India.