New Delhi , Jan. 16 (ANI): The armies of India and Pakistan on Wednesday agreed to strictly observe ceasefire agreement and not to allow escalation of tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir .
The Indian Army spokesperson Colonel Jagdeep Dahiya confirmed that a DGMO (Director General Military Operations) level meeting was held today during which Pakistan has promised to observe ceasefire and exercise restrain in the area.
“The DGMOs from both sides held a talk for ten minutes today. Pakistani DGMO has confirmed that orders have been passed to observe ceasefire and exercise restrain,” said Dahiya.
Earlier in the day, Army chief Gen. Bikram Singh rejected Pakistani allegations that Indian troops had crossed the LoC and indulged in unprovoked firing, saying any casualty on the other side may have been due to retaliatory firing.
Meanwhile, terming the act of planting landmines in the border areas in Jammu and Kashmir from the by Pakistan Army, as illegal and a part of their tactical plan, defence experts cautioned Indian Army to take the issue seriously.
Bharat Verma, a renowned defence expert, said that the recent activities from Pakistan are motivated to reactivate the border and internationalise the Kashmir issue.
‘ Pakistan knows that Kashmir is sleeping from their hands, and in order to reactivate and internationalise the area, it is doing all these things. America will say nothing to Pakistan at present, because Pakistan Army will escort their soldier from Kabul to Karachi during their convoy exit in near future. So, they and especially their outgoing Army Chief General Kiyani are taking the benefit of the situation,” said Verma.
“The act of planting landmines is absolutely illegal. After the war in 1971, both sides had decided that mining would be not done. The problem with mining is that due to the snow the mines shift, which may cause injury to either side. Pakistan is slowly moving towards internal conflict and the whole acts of ceasefire violations are to divert the attention towards India and destabilise New Delhi ,” he added.
Another eminent defence expert and Lieutenant General (Retired), P. N. Hoon also put similar thoughts, saying that India will have to focus on Pakistan ‘s ‘tactical planning’.
” Pakistan has to something regularly in Kashmir . We will have to think that why they are mining the border areas, when neither they nor we can move thereafter. They may be securing their selves that we could not attack them, and they can come in easily from anywhere else,” said Hoon.
“It is a very serious situation. Mining is done to stop someone from entering or crossing a particular area, so we will have to find out their strategy. Now, we must prepare for long-term readiness plan,” he added.
Earlier today, he welcomed Pakistan Supreme Court’s order to arrest Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, and predicted that the Islamic nation was again headed for a military coup.
Meanwhile, Indian Army has released pictures of landmines manufactured at the Pakistan Ordinance Factory, which were recovered from the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC).
The mines are anti-personnel and their pictures were given to the Pakistani army officers during the flag meet on Monday.
: Despite mounting tension along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, caused by the Pakistan Army’s repeated ceasefire violations, the Indian
Government on Wednesday said that it did not want to hinder economic ties with Islamabad.
Asked whether government will reconsider engaging Pakistan on the bilateral trade front, especially in the wake of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s strong remark that it would be difficult to pursue “business as usual” with Islamabad, Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said New Delhi is not thinking of breaking off economic ties, which he added has been developed after enormous effort over the years.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/india-pakistan-armies-agree-to-maintain-peace-along-loc/