Pakistani troops have violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir for the fifth time since Monday's flag meeting between the two sides. Senior army commanders of India and Pakistan held the flag meeting at Chakan-Da-Bagh in Poonch to de-escalate tension between the two countries. Our correspondent reports that according to Defence Spokesperson, Col. R.K.Palta Pak troops once again resorted to heavy firing on Indian posts along Line of Control (LoC) at Mankote in Krishna Ghati sector, Poonch district, last evening. The Pakistani troops started heavy firing around 1945 hrs in Nangi Tekri area of Krishna Ghati sector. However, no loss of life has been reported on Indian side. Earlier, Pak troops had fired some bursts in Mendhar area around 1745 hrs yesterday. Indian troops exercised restraint and did not retaliate. Following the gruesome killing of two Indian soldiers by Pak troops, Pakistani troops have been resorting to unprovoked firing on forward Indian posts along the Line of Control

The Prime Minister has said that those responsible for the crime of killing and mutilating the bodies of Indian soldiers will have to be brought to book. Dr. Manmohan Singh said, business with Pakistan cannot be as usual after the barbaric act along the Line of Control. In an intervew to a private TV channel, he said that the future of the peace process now depends on Islamabad taking appropriate steps. Asked about Pakistan being in denial mode, the Prime Minister hoped that Pakistan realises this. This is the first direct comment by the Prime Minister on the tension at the LoC.

Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said that India will not ignore the brazen denial and lack of a proper response by Islamabad to New Delhi's repeated demarches on the killing of two Indian soldiers on Line of Control.
Meanwhile, India could not operationalise the visa-on-arrival facility for senior citizens of Pakistan due to some technical problems. The facility was to begin yesterday for those above 65 years crossing the Attari-Wagah border by road.
The tension also spilled over to the sporting arena with Hockey India deciding to send back all the nine Pakistani players taking part in its high-profile Hockey India league following protests over the killing of Indian soldiers.