In one of its biggest rounds of firing across the border, Pakistan targetted 35 border posts on Sunday night and through Monday morning, leaving two civilians injured, just a day after two civilians were killed in cross-border firing.
As blatant ceasefire violations continued across the border, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah hoped the Centre would reconsider its decision of calling off secretary-level talks with Pakistan in the face of increasing civilian targetting.
Ironically, the talks were cancelled because of the Pakistan envoy's engagement with Kashmir separatist leaders.
"I hope that there is some rethink on this (calling off of talks with Pakistan)," Omar said at a public meeting on Sunday, The Press Trust of India reported.
Citing the Modi government's promise of "Acche Din", Abdullah said that it was the onus of the government to ensure that civilians in the state are not killed or injured, claiming that Pakistan was targetting them "by design".
"Given the breakdown in communication between India and Pakistan, I don't know how the Narendra Modi government plans to resolve this issue but they have an obligation to resolve it because they promised the people of this country 'acche din' (good days)," he said.
On Sunday night at 10 pm, Pakistan troops took to heavy mortar shelling in Ramgarh area in Samba and Kanachak area of Akhnoor along the International Border, targeting 35 Border Security Force (BSF) posts. Firing continued intermittently through Monday morning.
BSF inspector general Rajesh Sharma said on Sunday that Pakistan had not participated in sectoral level-meetings despite the Indian Army's invitation.
"Since the escalation of tension, we tried 16 times for sectoral-level meetings, but there was no response from Pakistan. In fact, in the past flag meetings, Pakistan has always been in denial. The onus is on them. We will give them a befitting reply as we have in the past," The Hindustan Times quoted Sharma.
He added that Pakistan was deliberately targeting villages in the RS Pura sector because of its "dense civilian population."
On Saturday, two civilians, including an eight-year-old child, were killed in the area when Pakistan troops targeted villages in the RS Pura sector with heavy mortar shelling and firing.
