Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Pakistan violates ceasefire twice on India''s 61st Republic Day

New Delhi, Jan.26 (ANI): Even as India celebrated its 61st Republic Day, Pakistan violated a ceasefire near the International border in Jammu twice on Tuesday.

Pakistan allegedly fired on two posts in Kanachak and Akhnoor in the wee hours of the morning.

A private television report said it was the 15th cease-fire violation by Pakistan in just one month.

Tuesday''s first violation came around 2.30 a.m. when intermittent firing was reported in Kanachak area near the international border. The Alfa Machal post was allegedly targetted from across the border.

The second violation was on the Akhnoor sector''s Tent Post, when two rockets were reporedly fired by Pakistani Rangers at about 2:45 a.m. from the Pakistan side.

"There was firing at around 2 a.m. in the morning today, and continued for a few hours," the channel quoted Jammu and Kashmir police chief Kuldeep Khoda, as saying.

"The intensity was initially huge, later on it died down a bit. We are watching the situation, our forces are there, they are very alert, our patrolling parties and the BSF are there supportnig them. And things are well under control right now," he added.

A red alert has been sounded in the Akhnoor sector in response to the cease-fire violation.

The cease-fire violations came a day after Union Home Minister P Chidambaram described Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s comment that his country could not guarantee against another 26/11 attack on India, as an irresponsible statement.

He added that if there was another attack from Pakistani soil, not only India but the whole world would hold Pakistan responsible.

Chidambaram said: “Gilani is the prime minister of that country. Ordinarily, I should not comment on a prime minister''''s statement, but with great respect, that was a very irresponsible statement.”

“Secondly, the prime minister of the country has all the information that has been furnished by us. More that what we have given to them following Kasab''''s interrogation in court, now there is more information after Headley and Rane were arrested. I believe Americans shared that information with Pakistan. Given that information, how can the prime minister of Pakistan say that he can''''t do anything or won''''t do anything. In fact, the information that has come to us from the Americans in the last few days, which I believe is also available to Pakistan, should make Pakistan take firm action, crack down on the names that have been provided to him,” Chidambaram added.

Asked for his comments on credible and strong inputs of worrying signals of plans that are happening across the border, Chidambaram said: “We assess the credibility of the information and we take appropriate pre-emptive measures. We have strengthened air port security and also security on the air craft. It is not imminent and not as though some will happen. We are fully alive to the nature of the threat and have taken adequate pre-emptive measures.”

Commenting on the recent attack in Srinagar, Chidambaram said: “It seems that in the New Year, they (the militants and their handlers) have stepped up the level of infiltration. We have seen at least half a dozen cases of infiltration and every one of them is repelled. It is possible that some of them sneaked through. There were incidents of fence cutting. Yesterday, we recovered large cache of arms and ammunition. So, the level of threat is pretty high and remains vulnerable but you must have noticed our response has been effective and swift.” (ANI)

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