Kashmir: Ceasefire violation reported in Rajouri district a day after Baramulla attack
The United States has asked India and Pakistan to reduce tensions between them by keeping military lines of communication open.
![Kashmir: Ceasefire violation reported in Rajouri district a day after Baramulla attack](https://sc0.blr1.digitaloceanspaces.com/large/818212-42778-gkrocyxstz-1475558551.jpg)
A ceasefire violation was reported in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, a little more than a day after militants attacked a Border Security Force and Army camp in the Baramulla district. Defence Ministry officials said the Pakistani army fired on Indian Army posts and civilian areas in the Noushera sector of Rajouri, PTI reported.
Lieutenant-Colonel Manish Mehta said Pakistani troops fired automatic weapons and mortar shells into the sector, adding that Indian troops had fired back after the violation. Local administrative officials in the district said they were monitoring the situation closely, according to The Indian Express.
Another ceasefire violation by Pakistan was reported in Akhnoor's Pallanwala sector at 1:35 PM on Tuesday. According to ANI, exchange of fire is still on, with Indian security forces retaliating. This is the sixth reported violation of the ceasefire in the past 24 hours. On Monday, firing took place in the Saujian, Shahpur-Kerni, Mandi and KG sectors of Poonch district.
Meanwhile, the United States called on India and Pakistan to reduce tensions between them by keeping military lines of communication open. US State Department spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau urged for “calm and restraint on both sides”. Trudeau said the Obama administration had emphasised on the need for regional stability in communications with both Islamabad and New Delhi. “We have strong ties with both Pakistan and India, and we’ll engage on that basis”.
A Border Security Force officer was killed and another injured when militants attacked the 46 Rashtriya Rifles and Border Security Force camps in Baramulla. Two militants were also killed in the exchange of fire. Sunday night’s attack comes four days after India carried out surgical strikes on militant launch pads along the Line of Control. On September 18, four militants had launched a similar attack on the army base camp in Uri, killing 19 soldiers.