Jammu, Oct 27 (PTI) There is a "sharp decline" in cross-border firing incidents at the Line of Control and the International Border but recent sporadic firing incidents prove that India can't lower its guard against Pakistan, Union minister Jitendra Singh said on Friday.
A BSF jawan and a woman were injured while several houses were damaged in cross-border shelling and firing by Pakistan Rangers, the first major ceasefire violation since 2021, in Jammu's Arnia on Thursday night.
According to the Border Security Force (BSF), the unprovoked firing by Pakistan continued till 3 am on Friday and was "befittingly responded".
Speaking to reporters in Samba, Singh said there is a "sharp decline" in cross-border firing incidents at the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB).
"But the sporadic firing incidents in the recent days and continuing infiltration bids across the LoC prove that we cannot lower the guard against mischief from Pakistan and territories under its illegal occupation," he said in response to a question about Thursday's incident.
The minister of state for Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said violence in Jammu and Kashmir has also come down in the last nine years, especially in the four years since Article 370 was revoked in August 2019.
He said that India's attitude has changed since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took charge in 2014.
"First the surgical strikes by the Indian Army were conducted in September 2016 and later the Balakote airstrikes were conducted by the IAF in February 2019," Singh said.
It has sent a clear signal that terrorist attacks sponsored from across the border will be sternly dealt with, he said. PTI AB DIV DIV
/newsdrum-in/media/agency_attachments/ipXwqL5g8EOqSkmkiZUK.png)
/newsdrum-in/media/member_avatars/9Rj3p38eDEeibqzKtTLR.jpg )
Follow Us