New Delhi: India has warned Pakistan of “dire consequences” as both armies are engaged in a heavy artillery battle along the Line of Control.
Responding to the use of heavy artillery guns by the Pakistan Army, the Indian Army has also opened up the 155 mm Bofors guns, which had pulverised the enemy during the 1999 Kargil War.
“In the last 24 hours, the Pakistan Army resorted to intense and unprovoked firing with heavy calibre weapons in selected areas of Krishna Ghati and Sunderbani, targeting Indian posts and civilian areas with mortar bombs and heavy artillery guns,” a statement released by the Indian Army said, adding that the Pakistani aggression was “effectively retaliated by the Indian Army”.
It also stated that as a professional army, it is committed to avoiding civil casualties, especially along the Line of Control. “All actions taken by our defence forces are targeted towards counter-terrorism and terrorist infrastructure, away from civilian areas, to avoid civilian casualties,” it said.
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“We are maintaining strict vigil along the Line of Control and IB (international border). Any further provocation or misadventure by Pakistan will be responded (sic) in a befitting manner with dire consequences.”
Situation ‘relatively calm’
The Army also said, “Post our warning to the Pakistan Army not to target civilian areas, the overall situation along the Line of Control remains relatively calm.”
Asked what it meant by “calm” while also saying that heavy artillery has been used in the last 24 hours, an officer explained that the situation is better than it was previously.
The Indian Army has always responded to the Pakistan Army in the same calibre used by it.
In the past, the ceasefire violations used to be, at most, limited to the use of the 105 mm field guns in direct fire use, or heavy mortars, besides other weapons.
The use of heavy-calibre artillery means that the Bofors guns have got into action. Sources said the artillery is being used for direct fire and not the way an entire regiment of guns are used in war.
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If there is a genuine desire to end this pointless confrontation, one DGMO could tell his counterpart, General, for 24 hours commencing 1800 hrs today, our guns will fall silent. We will not respond to your shelling. However, we will count the number of times you strike,. After 24 hours, we will send across twice the volume of munitions.
What if during this time period they cause severe damage to our forces? Has Pakistan lived by any agreement they have entered with India in the past?