Indian Home Minister reviews security following skirmishes on Kashmir LoC and border

Indian Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Tuesday reviewed security scenario in Indian-controlled Kashmir following deadly skirmishes on line-of-control (LoC) and international border (IB), officials said. Shinde reached Jammu city, the region's winter capital, Tuesday morning and soon after his arrival he along with region's Chief Minister Omar Abdullah went to India's border guards-Border Security Force (BSF)-headquarters at Panjtila -Samba to interact with border guards. "The two dignitaries along with various top BSF, police and civilian officers first had an aerial visit of the areas in Akhnoor, Samba, Kathua, etc., where ceasefire violations are causing great difficulties to common people," said an official spokesman. " Later on the BSF officers briefed them at Samba about the prevailing situation in the border areas and presented detailed account of the measures put in place by the Border Security Force in this regard." The border guards of India and Pakistan have been targeting each other along the international border in Kashmir for the past several days, forcing people living in these areas to abandon villages. The Indian Minister in the afternoon reviewed the prevailing security situation in the restive region during a high level security review meeting in Jammu.Indian police and paramilitary troopers stationed in Indian-controlled Kashmir have beefed up security in view of this high-profile visit across the region. Skirmishes between troops posted on LoC have been going on almost at daily basis since August 6. Majority of exchanges took place on LoC in Poonch. Both sides have suffered troop as well as civilian casualties during the standoff on 720 km long LoC and 198 km IB. LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts. On Monday Abdullah warned Pakistan against violating cease- fire on LoC and IB and asked New Delhi to explore options other than dialogue with Islamabad to contain the flare-up. New Delhi and Islamabad in 2003 agreed to observe cease-fire along the IB and LoC in Kashmir. Though some violations have been reported on both sides, the cease-fire remains in effect. Both New Delhi and Islamabad blame each other of resorting to unprovoked firing. Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their Independence from Britian, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.