Indian troops have bombarded Pakistan Army’s Hazira Brigade in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) along LoC, according to reports. It was done in retaliation to October 23 shelling of 93rd infantry brigade headquarters and an army camp in Poonch, in Jammu and Kashmir.
The attack also aimed at several terror camps, situated around administrative HQ in Hazira area. Reports state 12 rounds of 120 mm mortars and artillery ammunition were used in the offensive. The rounds met no response from Pakistan’s side, and was done in early hours.
“In response to Pakistani army’s firing of stray shells on Poonch and Jhallas on October 23, 2018, the Indian Army has sent a strong signal by firing at Pakistani army administrative headquarters… and the residents of border villages also reported that they could see smoke emanating,” PTI quoted security officials as saying.
The attack was a consequence of the 23rd October Pakistan’s shelling of Indian camps in Poonch, which fortunately had no casualty. Pakistani troops had fired rocket-propelled grenades out of which one round landed on a barrel type store shelter in Poonch causing it to catch fire, reports state. Indian army had instantly replied with rounds of fire, but real retaliation came yesterday.
The 23rd October shelling was following the foiled infiltration attempt by Pakistan’s Border Action Team at Sunderbani sector of J&K.
The gravity of the strikes launched could be ascertained by the ground reports that agencies are reporting. Many videos and images are also doing rounds on social media and mainstream media.
#WATCH: Pakistan army administrative HQ targeted along LoC near Poonch by Indian Army in retaliation to Pakistan’s mortar shelling of Poonch and Jhallas on October 23 pic.twitter.com/o0C6UJQqcr
— ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2018
Keeping alive its tradition of exercising restraint, reports narrate, Indian army did not resort to hurting civilians in areas abutting LoC like Hajira, Bandi Gopalpur, Nikial, Samani and Khuiratta, despite incessant provocation from Pakistan’s side.
Army sees it as a “good reply” to Pakistan Army, and also stated that Pakistan Army has been harmed substantially and casualties are also there.
In the “proactive and precise” targeting after September 2016 surgical strikes by Indian Army, over 138 Pakistan soldiers were killed in 2017. About 70 Pakistani soldiers were killed in the Indian Army’s action at the LoC until May this year. The retaliatory action forced the Pakistan Army to request for a ceasefire in the face of the mounting number of casualties.
India has maintained a suspension of talks with Pakistan, for its repeated offensives against Indian troops after reports of killing of three policemen in J&K.
