Tensions at LoC over after commanders meet
SRINAGAR: After shooting
at each other for almost a week, top commanders of Indian and Pakistani
armies had a half hour weekend meeting on this side of the LoC in
Poonch. They agreed not to violate the ceasefire but had no idea if the
Chakan da Bagh gates will be opened for trade and the weekly bus
service.
The meeting defused tensions that had left two soldiers dead and led to artillery deployment close to the Line of Control (LoC) for the first time in a decade.
Reports suggest that both sides accused each other for opening fire. While two soldiers were killed and three others injured in the Krihan Ghati sector, Pakistan claimed it lost a few of the civilians on its side. Indian army commander maintained that they were only retaliating and the response to the fierce Pakistani firing was measured. The meeting concluded with the two sides reiterating their commitment to the ceasefire that been in place since November 2002, almost for a decade.
While Brigadier M K Maggoo, who commands Poonch Brigade represented Indian side, it was Brigadier Talat Qayoom of the Rawlakote based 2-Azad Kashmir Brigade representing the other side. The meeting took place on this side of the LoC on the Chakan da Bagh - zero point road. The flag meeting took place many days after it was rejected by Pakistan army without citing any reason. The meeting was sought by Indian commanders after Pakistanis' started firing on Indian positions in Krishna Ghati sector between June 12 and June 19.
Four officers each from the two sides attended the meeting. Though the meeting was not structured, sources said, most of the discussion revolved round four points including "air space violations by Pakistan Air Force, truce violation and deliberate attempts by Pakistan soldiers to push intruders into India after causing forest fire on the LoC, which damaged the fence and mines laid by the Indian army to foil any attempt of anti-national elements."
A massive conflagration was reported in the Poonch-Rajouri forest range during which there a number of explosions, believed to be the damage to minefields laid as part of security by India. Part of the fence was also destroyed by the fire. Sources said the defence ministry has been informed in detail about the deliberations in the meeting.
Interestingly, however, Pakistani brigadier remained non-committal on the resumption of the trade and travel through Chakan da Bagh, the doors of which Pakistani army refund to open last week at the peak of the tension. He has said the trade and travel fall in the domain of the civilian government. There are 18 PoK residents in Poonch whose visa has expired and they are unable to return home because Pakistani army is not opening the gates. All the truck loads that reached the zero point returned back to Chakan da Bagh as gates remained locked. Interestingly all the J&K residents currently in PoK have not returned because of the stand off between the rival armies. But sources said trade and travel is resuming from Monday.
The skirmishes, however, remained localized. There was no impact on the happenings on the Uri window where trade and travel remained unaffected. Interestingly, a group of unarmed people including three militants Salamudin Khatana, Muhammad Haneef and Shakeel Ahmad Tass and their 19 family members including wives and children crossed over from Uri side last night. Initially they were pushed back but later they were permitted to surrender before the army. After debriefing, they will be handed over to the police.
Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/tensions-at-loc-over-after-commanders-meet/articleshow/14378134.cms
The meeting defused tensions that had left two soldiers dead and led to artillery deployment close to the Line of Control (LoC) for the first time in a decade.
Reports suggest that both sides accused each other for opening fire. While two soldiers were killed and three others injured in the Krihan Ghati sector, Pakistan claimed it lost a few of the civilians on its side. Indian army commander maintained that they were only retaliating and the response to the fierce Pakistani firing was measured. The meeting concluded with the two sides reiterating their commitment to the ceasefire that been in place since November 2002, almost for a decade.
While Brigadier M K Maggoo, who commands Poonch Brigade represented Indian side, it was Brigadier Talat Qayoom of the Rawlakote based 2-Azad Kashmir Brigade representing the other side. The meeting took place on this side of the LoC on the Chakan da Bagh - zero point road. The flag meeting took place many days after it was rejected by Pakistan army without citing any reason. The meeting was sought by Indian commanders after Pakistanis' started firing on Indian positions in Krishna Ghati sector between June 12 and June 19.
Four officers each from the two sides attended the meeting. Though the meeting was not structured, sources said, most of the discussion revolved round four points including "air space violations by Pakistan Air Force, truce violation and deliberate attempts by Pakistan soldiers to push intruders into India after causing forest fire on the LoC, which damaged the fence and mines laid by the Indian army to foil any attempt of anti-national elements."
A massive conflagration was reported in the Poonch-Rajouri forest range during which there a number of explosions, believed to be the damage to minefields laid as part of security by India. Part of the fence was also destroyed by the fire. Sources said the defence ministry has been informed in detail about the deliberations in the meeting.
Interestingly, however, Pakistani brigadier remained non-committal on the resumption of the trade and travel through Chakan da Bagh, the doors of which Pakistani army refund to open last week at the peak of the tension. He has said the trade and travel fall in the domain of the civilian government. There are 18 PoK residents in Poonch whose visa has expired and they are unable to return home because Pakistani army is not opening the gates. All the truck loads that reached the zero point returned back to Chakan da Bagh as gates remained locked. Interestingly all the J&K residents currently in PoK have not returned because of the stand off between the rival armies. But sources said trade and travel is resuming from Monday.
The skirmishes, however, remained localized. There was no impact on the happenings on the Uri window where trade and travel remained unaffected. Interestingly, a group of unarmed people including three militants Salamudin Khatana, Muhammad Haneef and Shakeel Ahmad Tass and their 19 family members including wives and children crossed over from Uri side last night. Initially they were pushed back but later they were permitted to surrender before the army. After debriefing, they will be handed over to the police.
Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/tensions-at-loc-over-after-commanders-meet/articleshow/14378134.cms
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