Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde to visit India-Pakistan border areas in J&K on Tuesday

Amidst continuous tension along the India-Pakistan border over a spurt in ceasefire violations, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde will visit the forward areas of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.

During his visit, Shinde will visit a few posts manned by the Border Security Forces along the International Border and review the situation there.

The Home Minister is also expected to have a meeting with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and top security officials of both state and central governments to take stock of the situation along the border.

"I will visit the border areas and review the situation," he said.

There has been continuous tension along the IB and Line of Control due to unprovoked firing and mortar shelling by Pakistani troops since early this year.

Nearly a dozen Indian soldiers were killed and several others injured due to such incidents of ceasefire violations so far this year.

At least 14 Indian forward posts and civilian areas were subjected to firing on Friday night, prompting the BSF to lodge a strong protests with its counterpart Pakistan Rangers.

BSF, which guards the IB, comes under the Home Ministry.

Last month, three Pakistani terrorists crossed the IB and attacked a police station and an army camp in Jammu region killing ten persons, including an army officer.

Yesterday, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said the ceasefire violation was not just an issue of diplomacy but also of military relations.

As a result of the unprovoked firing and mortar shelling by Pakistani troops, the Jammu and Kashmir government is also bracing up for possible migration by locals if there is an escalation in the situation along the IB and LoC.