NEW DELHI, Nov 16: Indian and Pakistani troops were engaged in heavy shelling along the Line of Control in Kashmir as Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee maintained that he had not decided yet whether to visit Islamabad to attend the Saarc summit proposed there early next year.
The stepped up shelling coincided with the announcement that US Ambassador in India Robert Blackwill would visit Jammu and Kashmir soon. His plans are being kept secret as part of stepped up security for him, reports said.
Zee News channel, reporting what it said was heavy shelling along parts of the LoC said troops from both sides exchanged firing in some areas of Noushera sector of Rajouri district in Jammu division.
Quoting Indian defence sources, it said: “Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked mortar shelling in Kalsian and Jhangar areas of Noushera sector from 1100 hours on Saturday. Indian troops retaliated and the exchange of shelling continued till Saturday evening.”
It quoted the sources as saying there was no report of any loss or damage on Indian side so far. Intermittent small arms firing exchange between two sides took place at some places along International Border in Kanachak and Samba areas of Jammu district during last 24 hours.
Whether it was the wrong atmospherics in Kashmir or problems over the elections in Gujarat within his own party that prompted him to say so, Mr Vajpayee on Saturday remained studiously non-committal on his participation in the Saarc summit, saying there was sufficient time to take a decision in that regard.
Pakistan has said it would wait for a few more days before setting a cut off time to accept confirmations for the January meet.
According to the Press Trust of India Mr Vajpayee also said he was apprehensive that the hosts could raise the Kashmir issue at the summit though the Saarc Charter did not have any provision for discussing bilateral matters.
“No decision has been taken as yet,” he said when asked whether he would travel to Islamabad for the summit.
Mr Blackwill is due to arrive in Jammu soon on a “familiarization” tour and is expected to meet representatives of the Mufti Mohammed Sayeed government, reports said. Mr Blackwill, during his stay in Jammu, is also expected to meet Kashmiris who left the valley after the onset of the armed campaign against Indian rule in Kashmir.