Peace to be maintained during Ramadan between India & Pakistan?

Despite the many requests and orders from the Union Ministry, the Pakistan ceasefire violations had continued, injuring and killing many of the locals during this Holy Month.

Reviewing the prevailing situation along the Line of Control and International Border in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) and his Pakistani counterpart spoke on the 29^th of May and agreed that the ceasefire will not be violated by both sides, the Indian Army said. 

They also agreed that issues will be resolved through existing hotline contacts and border flag meetings. The DGMOs agreed to ensure peace and avoid hardships to civilians along the borders.

The development came to light during a conversation over a hotline between the two DGMOs. The hotline was initiated by Pakistan’s DGMO Major General Sahir Shamshad Mirza at 6 PM. The Indian Army DGMO is Lt Gen Anil Chauhan. 

“Both the DGMOs reviewed the prevailing situation along the Line of Control and IB in J&K. Indian Army DGMO agreed with the proposal to undertake sincere measures to improve the existing situation to ensure peace and avoidance of hardships to the civilians along the borders,” an army officer said. 

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The DGMOs also agreed to fully implement the Ceasefire Understanding of 2003. “They also agreed to ensure that henceforth the ceasefire will not be violated by both sides,” the officer said. 

“It was also mutually agreed that in case of any issue, restraint will be exercised and the matter will be resolved through utilisation of existing mechanisms of Hotline Contacts and Border Flag Meetings at Local Commanders’ Level,” said the officer.  The Pakistan military’s Inter-Services Public Relations also issued a statement on the talks, detailing the same points. 

The previous DGMO level talk was held last month. Then Lt Gen Chauhan had told his counterpart that firing by Indian troops is only carried out in response to support given by the Pakistan Army to armed terrorists, who infiltrate across the border and target Indian Army posts. Chauhan had conveyed to his counterpart that India will continue to take all retaliatory measures. 

“The onus of de-escalation along the LoC rests with Pakistan Army provided they stop supporting terrorists and put an end to unprovoked ceasefire violations to abet infiltration,” the Army had said then. 

The LoC has been witnessing increasing hostilities in the last few months.

A total of 908 incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistan Army were reported till today in the current year as against 860 incidents during 2017, defence sources in New Delhi said.