Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 23: The Indian Army today charged Pakistan with abetment and support to cross border terrorism and deliberate targeting of civilian populations along Line of Control (LoC) in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri.
The charge was conveyed to Pakistan by the Indian Army officers at Battalion Commander level Flag Meeting held today at Chakan-Da-Bagh on the LoC in Poonch district, which was the first high-level contact between India and Pakistan since May 1 after fresh ceasefire violations broke out at various sectors of Poonch and Rajouri districts, leading to casualties of Army and civilians and loss of property.
The Flag Meeting last 50 minutes and was held in cordial atmosphere. It comes in the wake of continuous suspension of cross-LoC travel and trade on Poonch-Rawlakote route through Chakan-Da-Bagh for past seven weeks.
Sources told the Excelsior that the Indian delegation highlighted abetment and support of Pakistan army to cross border terrorism and deliberate attempts of targeting civilian population by firing mortar shells in the populated villages along LoC in the two border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.
The Indian Army delegation also charged Pakistan with indulging in sniping actions on the Line of Control to target the Army soldiers during ceasefire violations.
However, sources disclosed, both sides mutually agreed to the importance of exercising restrain on the Line of Control and keeping channels of communication open between local commanders.
“Both sides also agreed for necessity to institute mechanism to ensure durable peace and tranquility along the Line of Control,” sources said.
They added that resumption of trade and travel through Chakan-Da-Bagh was also discussed during the Flag meeting, which remained suspended for seventh consecutive week and about 119 civilians of two parts of divided State (Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan occupied Kashmir), who had come to meet their relatives and friends remained stranded for several weeks before being allowed to return via Uri-Muzaffarabad route in Kashmir this Monday.
While 116 PoK citizens had returned home through Kaman Post on Monday, three civilians of this side had come back from the same route, which is open for both travel and trade.
There had been no communication between the Army Commanders of India and Pakistan at the local level since fresh spell of ceasefire violation began in May. This was the first contact at the level of Battalion Commanders. Also, during the past few days, there has been no major incident of ceasefire violation by Pakistan on the LoC.
After heavy firing and shelling between India and Pakistani troops in several sectors of Rajouri and Poonch districts including Chakan-Da-Bagh, the cross-LoC travel and trade had been suspended on Poonch-Rawlakote route as the weekly bus and trucks enters Rawlakote from Poonch through Chakan-Da-Bagh and the Indian side didn’t want to take any risk.
Sources expressed confidence that the Flag Meeting between Battalion Commanders of India and Pakistan could end the hostilities between India and Pakistan in Poonch and Rajouri districts, leading to much awaited peace as the civilians living along LoC had been the worst sufferers of ceasefire violations by Pakistan.
Several Army personnel and civilians were killed or injured, apart from huge losses of property along LoC during nearly four months of ceasefire violations in the two districts. The losses on Pakistan side were very heavy. Apart from the killings of Army men, Pakistan also suffered huge losses of its infrastructure including posts and bunkers.
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