Calm on border in Jammu for past 24 hours

As darkness descended on the International Border in the Jammu region Friday evening, people's blood pressure started rising.

During the past four days, this darkness has been interrupted by fires raining down on civilian habitations from across the border.

Since guns have remained silent for the past 24 hours on both Pakistan and India sides, locals are hoping the worst is over.

"It has been after the nightfall during the last four days that Pakistan Rangers started mortar shelling from across the borders," said a senior official of the provincial administration here.

"After a brief 20-minute firing exchange between the two sides yesterday evening, we have had calm on the International Border today."

He said: "We expect the calm to continue, but with what has been happening here during the past four days, one never knows for certain."

This time nearly 30,000 residents of border villages are camping inside relief camps after abandoning their homes because of unprecedented peace-time shelling from Pakistan in their villages.

Eight civilians have died and over 60 injured on the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border during the past four days in Pakistan shelling on civilian areas.

If the night remains peaceful, authorities believe things would have improved.

"But, for that assurance we will have to wait and watch till tomorrow morning," the official said.