The India and Pakistan DMGOs, via hotlines, had decided to maintain peace between the borders and also maintain the 2013 treaty. Only that this proposed treaty did not last long between the 2 nations.
For the past couple of days, Pakistan has been firing at the borders for which the Army has given a befitting reply. But the ones caught in the crossfire is the innocent civilians living in the surrounding areas.
In the recent ceasefire violations, 2 BSF jawans, a cop and 13 civilians had been killed by the Pakistani Rangers who had resorted to heavy mortar shelling on the International Border (IB) in the Pargwal sector in Akhnoor area of Jammu on Sunday.
The latest firing has raised the death toll along the IB and the LoC to 46, including 20 security personnel. But the numbers affected are far more. “31 villages and 27,000 people have been affected in Marh and Khour subdivisions. Six lodgements and shelter camps are ready for accommodating affected villagers,” Jammu additional deputy commissioner Arun Manhas said.
Not to mention that last month, thousands of people residing along the IB in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts had to flee their homes following heavy shelling from Pakistan between May 15 and 23, which left 12 people dead.
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IS THE RAMADAN TRUCE TO BE CANCELLED?
In the backdrop of rising in cross-border firing in Jammu and Kashmir and the death of two soldiers in Akhnoor sector on Sunday, Union minister Hansraj Ahir said the government would be “constrained” to revoke the Ramadan ceasefire it had announced on May 16, if Pakistan continued to push terrorists across the border.
“We had decided to suspend operations in view of Ramadan. However, there is no respite in cross-border terrorism and ceasefire violations on the part of Pakistan,” said Ahir.
“We will be constrained to revoke the ceasefire agreement,” the minister said, adding that that the provisions of the truce allow India to retaliate if Pakistan initiates unprovoked firing. India, however, continues to believe in the “no-first-strike” policy, the minister clarified.
Terming as “unfortunate” the fresh ceasefire violation along the International Border in Jammu region, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti yesterday said the DGMOs (Director General of Military Operations) of India and Pakistan should hold dialogue again and stop the bloodshed. Innocent villagers at the border are suffering, the Chief Minister said.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to visit the valley this week to review the ground situation. It would be the home minister’s first visit to Jammu and Kashmir, after the centre’s decision to call a ceasefire during Ramadan. Singh is likely to highlight that India is willing to bring permanent peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
The home minister has, however, said that the Centre’s decision not to proactively carry out operations during Ramadan was different from a unilateral ceasefire. The minister reiterated that it had been clearly stipulated, the security forces would resume operation if any terror-related activity takes place. “We haven’t tied hands of our security forces,” Singh had said.
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