In what has been a first for the Indian Army in 15 years in the Uri sector since India and Pakistan arrived at a ceasefire agreement in 2003, the recent spike in ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) has resulted in the Indian Army opting for the use of artillery. It has been learnt that the Army has used 105 mm artillery field guns for a brief period
In what has been a first for the Indian Army in 15 years in the Uri sector since India and Pakistan arrived at a ceasefire agreement in 2003, the recent spike in ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) has resulted in the Indian Army opting for the use of artillery. It has been learnt that the Army has used 105 mm artillery field guns for a brief period, according to The Indian Express. Ever since the ceasefire in November 2003, Army has usually resorted to the use of artillery as a final resort after it has utilised personal weapons and mortars.
The Army’s change in tact in terms of its response comes amidst reports of the Pakistani Army using heavy calibre weapons, namely 120 mm mortar, on the LoC against the Indian Army five times this year.
Uri is a key sector as it is here that Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed attacked an Army base resulting in the death of a number of jawans. Following the attack, Prime Minister Narendra had vowed that the perpetrators will not go “unpunished”. Subsequently, Indian Army carried out surgical strikes across Line of Control (LoC) to avenge the Uri attack and destroyed terrorists’ launchpad.
A senior Army official at Udhampur-based Northern Command Headquarters said that due to the lack of snow this season has opened the infiltration routes in 15 Corps Zone early. He also said that militants are at the terrorist launchpads but asserted that security forces are ready to combat them as well as giving the befitting reply to ceasefire violations.
A recent report revealed that 138 Pakistan Army personnel were killed in 2017 in “tactical operations and retaliatory cross-border firings” along LoC.