AGENCY
New Delhi: Pakistan continues to violate the ceasefire agreement and “official sources” in Pakistan continue to support cross border firing, sabotage and infiltration into India, government said in Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said immediate and effective retaliation by the Indian Army and BSF personnel is carried out during instances of “unprovoked” firing and ceasefire violations.
In a written reply, he said that there were 228 incidents of ceasefire violation along LoC and 221 incidents of ceasefire violation along the International border in 2016. In these incidents, 13 civilians were killed and 83 others were injured while eight army personnel were killed and 74 others were injured. Five BSF personnel were killed and 25 others also injured in these incidents.
Pathankot Air Base on high alert
Pathankot: The air force station here, which had witnessed a terror attack last year, was put on high alert on Tuesday and a massive search operation was initiated in the area following intelligence input about presence of suspicious men. The joint operation of Punjab Police, the Army, the Air Force and the Himachal Pradesh Police was launched following the intelligence input, Pathankot SSP Nilambari Vijayjagdale said.
Without divulging much information, she said the search operation is part of precautionary measures and more than 500 security personnel are engaged in it.
Pakistan rearing terrorists: Ansari
New Delhi: Pakistan’s military has reared “good” terrorists for cross-border missions while battling “bad” militants that fail to toe its line, Vice President Hamid Ansari said on Tuesday. Attacking Pakistan for use of terrorism as state policy, he said the most virulent factor fuelling terrorism is state sponsorship of and collusion with terrorists.
“A case in point is Pakistan’s use of extremist groups as an instrument of foreign policy is well documented…,” he said while addressing the third Counter Terrorism Conference organised by India Foundation.
