Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 22: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today asked Pakistan to immediately stop ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) and maintain sanctity of the LoC as people on both sides were suffering in view of continued firing.
In a brief chat with reporters in Kathua while taking assessment of the situation arising out of recent floods, Omar said India and Pakistan should accept and respect the sanctity of the LoC and ceasefire agreement of 2003 so that the peace prevailed on the borders and people live their normal life.
“In the firing between the two countries, the common man on both sides was suffering. It was in the interest of the two countries that ceasefire violations were put to a halt along the LoC and peace restored,” he said and hoped that normalcy would soon prevail along the Line of Control.
“The people on both sides of the border were bearing the brunt of the firing. Such incidents will not improve bilateral relations between the two countries, which was need of the hour,” the Chief Minister said and added: “the best thing is that India and Pakistan should accept and respect the ceasefire and ensure safety of people living on two sides of the border.
The statement comes at a time when Pakistan Army was resorting to heavy firing and shelling on forward Indian positions in entire Poonch sector forcing India to retaliate. Today only, two civilians were injured in Pakistan shelling at Shahpur Kerni in Poonch sector while five civilians were wounded few days back in Mendhar and Balakote sectors.
“People living close to LoC have to suffer…Whether it is from this side or the other…They have to bear the brunt of ceasefire violations,” Omar said.
“This (ceasefire violation) is nothing new…We have been repeatedly saying that leaders of India and Pakistan …Accept ceasefire…For people’s benefit (living close to the LoC on both sides),” Omar said.
He said he cannot understand what Pakistan achieves by breaking ceasefire … Wherever they violate ceasefire, we strongly retaliate and they (Pakistan) suffer losses,” the Chief Minister said.
Replying to another question on India’s hope in the Nawaz Sharif Government for improvement of Indo-Pak relations, Omar said: “how much hope we will keep in the Nawaz Sharif Government depends on several factors, as Pakistan is not controlled by the civilian Government alone…There are others too…the ISI, Army and other factors.”
PTI adds from Jaipur:
National Conference patron and former Chief Minister of J&K, Farooq Abdullah, said that if a neighbouring country like Pakistan wanted to be on cordial terms with India, it would have to live within the limits of friendship.
“They (Pakistan) have to stop it (violating ceasefire) if they want friendship… Our effort should be that we live within the limits of friendship,” Abdullah, the Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, told a farmers’ workshop on solar power in Jaipur.
“India is not weak on the border… We are not wearing “churiyan” (bangles)… We will give a fitting reply at the appropriate time,” he said, taking a dig at Pakistan.
“Neighbours threaten that Kashmir will go away from India, I firmly say Kashmir was of Hindustan, is of Hindustan, and will be of Hindustan forever,” the Union Minister said.
Talking about the recent communal clashes in Kashmir’s Kishtwar, he said it would be clear as to who all were behind the violence when a probe by a retired judge into the matter was completed.
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