Pakistan, on one hand, tries to show their humanitarian face by releasing Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman as ‘peace gesture’, while on other its army continues to violate ceasefire along LoC repeatedly. Since the Pulwama attack on February 14, which claimed at least 40 CRPF jawans' lives, Pakistan has violated ceasefire almost 10 times in a day.

According to the army, Pakistani forces are continuously resorted to heavy shelling and firing mortars mostly targeting civilian areas along the LoC. From February 15 (24 days) Pakistani army has violated ceasefire 230 times, which comes to almost 10 ceasefire violation every day. Terrorists affiliated with Pakistan-backed Jaisj-e-Mohammed (JeM), carried out a suicide bomb attack on CRPF cavalcade. Since then, the situation around the bordering areas remains extremely tense with continuous firing from Pakistan’s side.

Even on Sunday morning, Pakistan violated ceasefire in Krishna Ghati Sector of Poonch district. The ceasefire violation started around 4.30 am as Pakistan continued firing for approximately three hours, till 7.30 am.

The Pakistan Army has been using heavy calibre weapons targeting Indian posts and civilian areas with mortar bombs and heavy artillery guns. The Pakistan Army initially used 81mm infantry mortar but as the tension on the border increased they started using 105mm artillery guns followed by bigger artillery guns, likely of 130mm calibre, along with a mix of lower calibre guns.

Retaliating to Pakistan’s offensive, Indian Army has started using Bofors guns. The artillery gun has a 155mm calibre, unlike the guns conventionally used to counter Pak shelling. This is something Indian forces have not done in years.

Last week, the Indian army had warned that if Pakistan continues provocation and misadventure by violating ceasefire and targeting civilian, it will be responded in a befitting manner with ‘dire consequences’.