A total of 5,601 incidents of ceasefire violations (CFVs) by Pakistan were reported along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir in the last two years, the government said in Rajya Sabha on Monday.

It further added that Indian troops responded to them by inflicting "substantial damage" on Pakistani posts and personnel.

Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt, replying to a question, also said that troops deployed on forward posts enjoy complete "freedom of action" in responding to Pakistan's ceasefire violations.

"A total of 5,601 instances of ceasefire violations were reported along the LoC under the operational control of the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir from November 30, 2019, to November 29, 2021," he said, adding that "substantial damage was inflicted on Pakistani posts and personnel during retaliation by the Indian Army."

To a separate question, Bhatt said a total of 194 industrial licenses have been issued to private companies for manufacturing items like ammunition, artillery guns, howitzers, air defence guns, destroyers, frigates, night-vision devices, ballistic protection items and radars in the last five years.

" Licenses to manufacture defence equipment are granted by the licensing authorities, namely, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and Ministry of Home Affairs under the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act and Arms Act respectively, in consultation with the Ministry of Defence," he added.