Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 12: India and Pakistan committed themselves to peace along Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) as the troops of both sides inter-acted at the Border Meeting Points (BMPs) and exchanged sweets and greetings on the occasion of Diwali festival yesterday.
A similar meeting had taken place between Indian Army and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China on November 7 at Chushul in Ladakh sector in which both the sides apart from celebrating Diwali festival had also reiterated the commitment to maintain peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Official sources told the Excelsior that the delegations of Army officials from India and Pakistan met at Chakan-Da-Bagh cross-LoC point in Poonch sector at 10.20 am yesterday and had free inter-action while exchanging sweets and fruits to celebrate Diwali festival.
The officials were together at Chakan-Da-Bagh for about half an hour and the interaction passed off in cordial atmosphere. Both the sides expressed commitment to maintenance of peace, which was prevailing on the LoC since September 21 Brigade Commander level meeting between India and Pakistan at Chakan-Da-Bagh.
Since the Brigade Commander level meeting, no ceasefire violations have been reported from Pakistan side. Only one infiltration attempt was detected by the troops on the LoC in Poonch sector in which one Army commando and a Pakistani militant were killed.
With no ceasefire violations, peace has gradually returned to the LoC with people working in their fields.
Cross-LoC trade and travel has been suspended between the two sides for this week. The bus didn’t ply on weekly day of Monday while trade will not take place on all four week days in view of Diwali festival through Chakan-Da-Bagh route between Poonch in Jammu and Rawlakote in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The BSF and Rangers also exchanged sweets at Octroi Post along the International Border in Suchetgarh sector of RS Pura tehsil at 1.20 pm yesterday. However, the meeting between BSF officials and Rangers didn’t last long. Both sides had casual exchange of sweets and fruits and retreated to their territory within few minutes.
Though the International Border was also gradually peaceful after the Sector Commander level meeting between BSF and Rangers at Suchetgarh sector last month, the relations between the two sides seem to be strained due to last month’s heavy mortar shelling and firing between the two sides in Samba and Hiranagar sectors in which a civilian was killed and several others were injured. Pakistan had also suffered extensive damage and casualties in retaliatory firing by the BSF.
Three days before, Pakistan had again violated ceasefire in Samba sector for few minutes but there were no casualties or damage.
Due to escalated tensions on the LoC and IB for past quite some time now, the troops of both the countries had refused to celebrate any festival together, both on LoC and IB this year prior to Eid Milan on September 21. The two sides didn’t meet on any major occasion this year including Republic Day (January 26), Eid in July and Independence Day of the two countries on August 14 and 15.
India and Pakistan have fixed Independence Day of the two countries, Republic Day of India and other major festivals like Diwali and Eid for joint celebrations at cross-LoC and IB points in Jammu and Kashmir by exchanging sweets and fruits.
Of four points, where Indo-Pak troops met today, two were still active with movement of cross-LoC bus and trucks for civilians and trade while two others have been de-activated. Chakan-Da-Bagh on Poonch-Rawlakote route in Poonch and Kaman Post along Uri-Muzaffarabad route in Kashmir were being used by the two countries by transporting civilians into two parts of divided State (Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan occupied Kashmir) through cross-LoC bus service every Monday followed by trade on next four days. Titwal point of Kupwara, Kashmir and Tata Pani of Mendhar, Jammu, have since been de-activated and were used only on the occasion of exchange of greetings on major festivals.
The Director Generals of BSF and Rangers had met in New Delhi for four days (from September 9 to 12) and decided to maintain ceasefire along the International Border, which was being frequently breached by the Rangers. This was followed by the Brigade Commander level meeting between the two Armies on September 21 at Chakan-Da-Bagh in Poonch in which the two Armies also agreed to maintain peace and tranquility on the borders.
After the two meetings, the borders have become peaceful after several months long tensions due to heavy mortar shelling and firing but the BSF broke the agreement in October and again started heavy mortar shelling and firing in Samba and Hiranagar sectors, which came to halt after the Sector Commander level meetings at Octroi.
In the month of August, six civilians were killed at Balakote sector in Poonch district in Pakistan shelling. Later, three civilians including two women were killed in shelling by the Rangers at Arnia and RS Pura sectors. Pakistan had also suffered heavy losses in retaliatory firing by the Indian Army and BSF.
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