After three days' lull in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts, the Pakistan Army Tuesday again opened fire at Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.

 

 Defence spokesman Col. R.K.Palta told IANS: "Pakistan Army violated ceasefire today (Tuesday) morning in Gambhir area of Bhimber Gali sector of the LoC (Line of Control) in Poonch district."

 

 "They used small arms and automatics to target our positions. Our troops effectively retaliated Pakistan firing, using matching weapons," Col. Palta said.

 Firing exchanges started at 5.10 a.m. today (Tuesday) morning and continued till 7 a.m., according to the spokesman.

 

 "No casualty or damage was caused on our side."

 

 Pakistani troops have violated the bilateral ceasefire agreement signed by India and Pakistan in November 2003 at least 250 times since the beginning of this year so far. Repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan have thrown lives of hundreds of border residents in Jammu region out of gear.

 

 While some experts believe Pakistani troops resort to ceasefire violations to facilitate infiltration of armed guerrillas into Jammu and Kashmir, others argue this is done by Pakistan to keep the Kashmir issue alive at international fora.

 

 Meanwhile, Lt. General D.S. Hooda, who heads the army's Nagrota-based 16 Corps, has said around 300 trained militants are waiting at 40-45 training camps across the border to sneak into Jammu and Kashmir through the LoC stretching from Akhnoor in Jammu district to Poonch district.

 

 Hooda also said the terror infrastructure is still intact in the Pakistan-administered Kashmir.