India raises infiltration attempts, ceasefire violations at flag meeting with Pakistan

In the first meeting held on February 21, the two sides had reportedly agreed to maintain the sanctity of the LoC and also the ceasefire agreement reached between two countries on February 25, 2021.

However, the Pakistani Army had violated the ceasefire by resorting to “unprovoked firing” after a landmine explosion along the Line of Control in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district on April 1. In a statement issued eventually, the Army claimed that “a mine blast occurred in Krishna Ghati Sector due to Pakistan Army intrusion across LoC” but eventually revised it to skip the intrusion part, stating only that a “mine blast occurred in Krishna Ghati sector while the Pakistan Army was patrolling along the LoC”.

The statement also claimed that the Indian troops had responded effectively in a “controlled and calibrated manner” to the “unprovoked firing”.

This exchange came just over a fortnight after an Indian soldier was wounded in firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri on March 12. According to sources, the injured soldier was deployed at a forward post in the Kalsian area in Nowshera’s Rajouri district.

The same day, an explosion also occurred along the LoC, but no casualties were reported.

On February 11, two Indian soldiers — including an Army captain — were killed in an IED explosion reportedly planted by militants along the LoC in Akhnoor sector. Days before that, there had been incidents of sniping at Indian soldiers from across the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts.