Ceasefire Violations In J&K At 5-Year-High

Authorities said ceasefire violations by Pakistan from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a five-year high in the first nine months of this year. According to the data collated by the Indian Army, Pakistan violated the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir 2,225 times till October 2, meaning that on average, it violated the ceasefire eight times a day during this period. Defense sources said that compared to this, the total number of ceasefire violations by Pakistan numbered 1,629 during the entire calendar year of 2018. “Pakistan increased ceasefire violations this year following the Balakot airstrikes in February and subsequently after the special status was withdrawn to Jammu and Kashmir in August,” a defense official said. The officer said the high number of ceasefire violations is linked to attempts by Pakistan to push infiltrators into Jammu and Kashmir under the covering fire. Intelligence reports have revealed that militants of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba have been kept in waiting along the LoC to be pushed into Indian territory, whenever they sense a chance.