Indian Army’s Northern Command chief, Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh, called 2018 a “great year for security forces”.

The GOC-in-C of the Udhampur-based Northern Command said on Thursday that India is always ready to give Pakistan a befitting response to the aggression from across the border.

“The year 2018 has been a great year for the security forces. More than 250 terrorists were killed, 54 were caught alive, and 4 surrendered to the forces,” he told the media after inaugurating a bridge at Kalai in Poonch district of Jammu-Kashmir.

“In the last few days, five Pakistanis were killed. It shows that Indian Army is always ready to give them a befitting reply,” he said referring to the numerous ceasefire violations by Pakistan forcing retaliatory action from India.

Lt Gen Singh added that India was always a step ahead of Pakistan in giving them a befitting response to each and every ceasefire violation.

“As per wireless and other intercepts, Pakistan army and militants suffered a huge loss in our retaliatory action,” the Lt Gen said.

According to reports, at least five Pakistani army personnel have been killed and three others injured in heavy retaliatory firing by Indian troops across the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch sector in the past 48 hours.

In the morning today, the Pakistani army violated ceasefire in Jhangar, Laam, Pukherni and Peer Bhadreshwar areas of Rajouri district.

The ceasefire violations have resulted in the deaths of a BSF assistant commandant, an Indian Army officer, a soldier and a porter. While the BSF officer was killed in sniper firing on the international border in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district on Tuesday, the other three were killed in Nowshera and Sunderbani sectors of Rajouri district.

The Kalai bridge, which was inaugurated by the Northern Command chief, spans over Suran River and connects Kalai area to Chandak area in Poonch district. Besides reducing traffic congestion in the city, the bridge will also act as a strategic asset for the armed forces who will now be able to move troops and other military equipment faster.