Since the Pulwama attack, there have been over 100 ceasefire violations along LoC and both countries have been using guns of higher calibre. The use of artillery guns indicates rise in military tension between the two countries

NEW DELHI: The Indian Army has started using Bofors guns to retaliate against shelling by the Pakistan Army along the LoC in the current round of confrontation. The artillery gun has a 155 mm calibre, unlike the guns conventionally used to counter Pak shelling. 

The move follows Pakistan Army’s use of ‘heavy calibre weapons’ in the Krishna Ghati and Sunderbani sectors along LoC, the Army said. It has also been targeting Indian posts and civilian areas with heavy artillery. The use of artillery guns indicates rise in military tension between the two countries.

“In the last 24 hours, the Pakistan Army resorted to intense and unprovoked firing with heavy calibre weapons in Krishna Ghati and Sunderbani, targeting Indian posts and civilian areas with mortar bombs and heavy artillery guns. The Indian Army has effectively retaliated. There have been no casualties on the Indian side,” said army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mohit Vaishnava. “We are maintaining strict vigil along LoC and international border. Any further provocation or misadventure by Pakistan will be responded in a befitting manner with dire consequences,” he said.

Since the Pulwama attack, there have been over 100 ceasefire violations along LoC and both countries have been using guns of higher calibre with every violation, officials said. The Pakistan Army initially used 81 mm infantry mortar when this round of border firing began. Subsequently, they used 105 mm artillery guns, indicating that artillery regiments became active along LoC. In the last three days, it used artillery guns, likely of 130 mm calibre, along with a mix of lower calibre guns. On Wednesday, they used 105 mm field artillery guns and 120 mm mortars.

“Since the Pulwama attack, there have been about three ceasefire violations every day. On February 27, when Pakistan Air Force jets targeted Indian military installations, the Pakistan Army violated the ceasefire at 25 locations along the entire LoC,” an official said.

Vaishnava added after the Indian Army’s warning “not to target civilian areas,” the overall situation was relatively calm.