Hours after ‘sweets’, Pak snipes Army jawan, hurt

JAMMU: Hours after the armies of two countries exchanged sweets and greetings on the eve of Diwali in Poonch, an Army jawan was injured on Tuesday in sniper fire from Pakistan's side of the Line of Control (LoC) in neighbouring Rajouri district.
The soldier was hit by a bullet fired from across the border at Kalal in Noushera sector.
“He was was immediately evacuated to the Army hospital in Udhampur,” officials said.
The incident took place hours after armies of the neighbouring countries exchanged sweets and greetings on the eve of Diwali along the LoC in the nearby Poonch district.
"On the occasion of Diwali, as a confidence building measure, sweets were exchanged between Indian Army and Pakistan Army at Poonch and Mendhar on November 6,"Jammu-based White knight Corps said in a tweet.
Both armies exchanged pleasantries along with the sweets, it said.
Traditionally the two armies exchange greetings on the occasions of national and religious festivals of the two countries.
Due to heightened tensions on the LoC, essentially due to ceasefire violations by Pakistan army, the interaction between the two sides has remained confined to flag meetings to bring down tensions.
Both sides allege frequent violation of the 2003 ceasefire, with India alleging the highest number of such violations this year in the last eight years. These have led to deaths of civilians as well as security personnel.
Meanwhile, a defence spokesman said General Officer Commanding, Fire and Fury Corps, Lt Gen Y K Joshi interacted with the troops deployed in zero degree temperatures in the rugged and mountainous locations of western Ladakh on the eve of the festival of lights.
Lt Gen Joshi conveyed his greetings to the troops and their families, the spokesman said.
He said the GOC complimented the troops for their service to the nation in such remote and inhospitable terrain and weather conditions.
Later in the day, Lt Gen Joshi paid homage to martyrs at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass and interacted with troops, the spokesman said.