NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan have agreed to put an end to all ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) and address each other’s core issues as well as concerns, according to a joint military statement on Thursday.
Here’s all you need to know:
* The latest agreement was reached after the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan held discussions over the established mechanism of hotline contact.
* Both India and Pakistan have pledged to follow existing mechanisms of hotline contact and border flag meetings to resolve any unforeseen situation or misunderstanding.
* “In the interest of achieving mutually beneficial and sustainable peace along the borders, the two DGMOs agreed to address each other’s core issues and concerns which have propensity to disturb peace and lead to violence.
“Both sides agreed for strict observance of all agreements, understandings and cease firing along the Line of Control and all other sectors with effect from midnight of February 24/25,” the joint statement said.
* India and Pakistan had signed a ceasefire agreement in 2003, but it has hardly been followed in letter and spirit.
Here’s all you need to know:
* The latest agreement was reached after the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan held discussions over the established mechanism of hotline contact.
* Both India and Pakistan have pledged to follow existing mechanisms of hotline contact and border flag meetings to resolve any unforeseen situation or misunderstanding.
* “In the interest of achieving mutually beneficial and sustainable peace along the borders, the two DGMOs agreed to address each other’s core issues and concerns which have propensity to disturb peace and lead to violence.
“Both sides agreed for strict observance of all agreements, understandings and cease firing along the Line of Control and all other sectors with effect from midnight of February 24/25,” the joint statement said.
* India and Pakistan had signed a ceasefire agreement in 2003, but it has hardly been followed in letter and spirit.
* The two nations have regularly exchange artillery and machine-gun fire along the ceasefire line, with pact being violated several times.
* The government has said that a total of 10,752 cases of ceasefire violations have taken place along India’s border with Pakistan in the last three years, in which 72 security personnel and 70 civilians were killed.
* However, a government official said that India’s military would maintain deployments along the LoC to prevent infiltration and continue counterinsurgency operations in the Kashmir valley.
* “Ceasefire does not mean that the Army’s fight against terrorism has come to a halt and its alertness and vigil will not be lowered,” Indian officials have said.
(With inputs from agencies)