Ceasefire violation: Army officer, 2 personnel injured in Pak firing across border

New Delhi: Three Army personnel, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), were injured in heavy Pakistani shelling across the border in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday. Firing also continued at Akhnoor's Phargwal area and Arnia in RS Pura sector.

"Pakistan is deliberately targeting our civilians which is unacceptable. We will defend our people at all costs," the Border Security Force (BSF) said.

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, meanwhile, held a meeting with the chiefs of the Indian Army, Navy and the Air Force as the ceasefire violations continued unabated.

India on Tuesday toughened its stand on the border situation, putting on hold the flag meeting with the Pakistan Army, deciding instead to wait for Islamabad to make the first move.

"The Border Security Force (BSF) has been asked to put on hold the proposal for flag meeting with Pakistan. India has now decided to wait for Pakistan to make the first move," sources in the government said.

Pakistan fired at 40 Indian outposts in Jammu and Kashmir in shelling that began on Sunday evening. Eight civilians were injured on Tuesday and the BSF said that Pakistani Rangers were predominantly involved. At 4 pm on Tuesday, Pakistan again violated the ceasefire at Balnoi sector in Poonch.

The shelling came despite a early morning meeting between the Directors General of Military Operation (DGMO) of both sides where they accused each other of violating the ceasefire.

Pakistan, however, blamed India for the violations.

"The government of Nawaz Sharif has been exercising utmost restraint and responsibility. We call upon the Indian government to immediately cease fire and shelling. It is sad that the Indian government has not been able to restrain its forces despite strong diplomatic protest by Pakistan," Sartaj Aziz, Advisor to the Pakistan Prime Minister, said.

India, meanwhile, hit back saying it will give a fitting reply if Pakistan didn't stop the firing.

"We want to secure our borders. Pakistan had started action on the bordr. We have told Pakistan to stop ceasefire violation or else India will give a fitting reply. Pakistan should understand this," Home Minister Rajnath Singh said.

The Border Security Force (BSF), meanwhile, submitted a report on the ceasefire violations to the Home Ministry. Government sources said that it was clear that infiltration attempts were underway.