Brig Comdrs hold flag meeting
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 23: After series of ceasefire violations by Pakistan army and very effective retaliation given by the Indian troops in which number of Pakistani soldiers were killed or injured and their infrastructure damaged, the Army officials of the two countries met at Chakan-Da-Bagh cross-LoC point and discussed Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and maintenance of peace on the LoC, which has been shattered by the enemy troops.
Indian Army strongly took up prevention of infiltration by the militants into Indian territory from Pakistan occupied Kashmir, which were being aided and abetted by Pakistani troops under the cover of ceasefire violations and wanted the Pakistani troops to immediately stop backing intrusions, official sources told the Excelsior.
“The flag meeting was held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere and ended with either side assuring to adhere to the norms of 2003 ceasefire agreement and Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) level talks of May 29, 2018,” sources said.
The 2003 ceasefire agreement had come into force in November that year after then Pakistan Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali had declared unilateral ceasefire on borders with Pakistan, which was reciprocated by then Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.
They added that both the Armies agreed to work towards further improving situation along the Line of Control in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, where the two sides had regularly been exchanging firing, leading to fresh tension on the LoC as three Indian Army soldiers were martyred while Pakistan army also suffered heavy casualties.
The Brigade Commander level flag meeting held at Chakan-Da-Bagh cross-LoC point on Poonch-Rawlakote route at 11 am lasted about 40 minutes.
The Indian Army delegation was led by Brig VS Sekhon while the Pakistani team was handed by Brig Qaiser Ahmad.
“The flag meeting focused on augmenting Confidence Building Measures, maintaining peace along the Line of Control and prevention of infiltration from Pakistan occupied Kashmir. The flag meeting was held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere and ended with either side assuring to adhere to the norms of the 2003 ceasefire agreement and the DGMOs-level talks of May 29, 2018 and work towards improving the situation along the Line of Control,” Defence spokesman Lt Col Devender Anand said.
Sources disclosed that Pakistani troops were frustrated after suffering heavy casualties and damages in retaliatory firing by the Indian Army in Pallanwalla, Sunderbani, Nowshera, Mankote and all other sectors in Rajouri and Poonch districts, where Pakistani was resorting to ceasefire violations and targeting Indian forward posts.
There were reports that nearly dozen Pakistani troopers were killed and many others injured in attack on their Army headquarters at Hajeera in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and other defence locations. Pakistani troops had also suffered massive infrastructural damages.
“Having failed to match the Indian strength, Pakistan army agreed to peace by holding the Brigade Commander-level flag meeting,” sources said.
Army has reports that number of militants continued to camp on Pakistan side of the Line of Control opposite Rajouri and Poonch districts and that majority of Pakistan’s ceasefire violations were aimed at giving cover to the militants to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir. However, alert troops on the LoC didn’t allow Pakistani designs to succeed and no successful infiltration was reported.
In Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district, Army had gunned down two infiltrators, both of whom were Pakistanis and heavily armed. However, in the encounter, three Army jawans had attained martyrdom.
There had been reports that Pakistan was trying to push the militants well before the onset of extreme winter and heavy snowfall, which will close some of the passes and infiltration routes of the militants.
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