Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti Sunday urged militaries of India and Pakistan to talk again as fresh cross border fire killed two Border Security Force soldiers along the international border dividing Jammu with Pakistani province of Punjab.
“It’s unfortunate that this has happened even after Directors-General of Military Operations (DGMOs) from both sides held dialogue,” Mufti said addressing a PDP convention here.
“The DGMOs should meet again. This bloodshed must be brought to an end.” Two BSF personnel were killed and three civilians wounded on Sunday as the two sides traded heavy fire and mortar bombs across the border in Pargwal sector of Akhnoor.
The fresh fighting comes barely a week after the rival DGMOs agreed to “fully implement” the 2003 ceasefire agreement in “letter and spirit” and a brief lull following days of escalation along the border that claimed several lives on both sides.
Terming the fresh ceasefire violation as “unfortunate” the CM said, “This can’t be allowed to continue.”
Last month, around 100,000 border residents in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts had to flee their homes following intense cross border firing of heavy ammunition and mortars between May 15 and May 23.
That fighting left two BSF soldiers and at least 12 civilians, including an infant dead.