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Top commanders look to defuse LoC tension
Meeting comes in the wake of the death of six soldiers in fighting since June 11.
Meeting comes in the wake of the death of six soldiers in fighting since June 11. PHOTO: FILE
Brigade commanders of Pakistan and India were expected to meet on the Line of Control (Loc) in Poonch district in Indian Kashmir on Saturday in an effort to end 10 days of skirmishing which has left six soldiers dead and led to artillery deployment close to the LoC for the first time in a decade, according to The Hindu.
The meeting between 6 Sector Commander Amir Sohail Ashraf and his Indian counterpart 10 Brigade Commander T S Sandhu comes a week after Pakistan apparently rejected an appeal for a colonel-level flag meeting, the newspaper said in a report.
The fighting began on June 11, after India’s Border Security Force soldier P K Mishra was shot dead by a sniper. Soldiers at the post, where Mishra was stationed, code-named ‘Kranti’, returned fire. Two days later, soldier Harvinder Singh was shot dead in firing on a nearby post, code named ‘Kripan’. Four Pakistani soldiers were also reported dead, The Hindu quoted intelligence sources as saying.
In response, the Indian Army had pushed 155-millimetre Bofors guns into firing positions along the LoC from Mendhar to Poonch, fearing escalation of the skirmishes.
Islamabad has not offered any official comment on the clashes. However, Pakistan shut down the Chakan-da-Bagh border outpost for local trade on June 19 and suspended the weekly bus service from Rawalakot to Poonch. The bus service was inaugurated by United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi in 2006, and is seen as a key element in the India-Pakistan peace process.
Pakistan has in the past complained that Indian troops engage in unprovoked firing across the border, when the fencing disintegrates in the winter snowfall. India blames Pakistan for its aggressive stance against groups of infiltrating militants.
Published In The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2012.
Reader Comments (20)
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The fighting began on June 11, after India’s Border Security Force soldier P K Mishra was shot dead by a sniper.
I fail to understand if the above statement is true then how come Indian retaliation is considered unprovoked ? And above all what was the need to do so , seems to be because of frustation on the part of Pakistan army with continued Indian stand on Siachen. But things like this only adds to the trust deficit on part of the Indian side. Even the slightest of the progress made in the talks gets negated due to these kind of incident, what an apathy !
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Not again! ..No mischief please..Neither of the countries civilians need this!!
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Its the Indian who started it. By God… We will not take prisoners this time.
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“Four Pakistani soldiers were also reported dead” dead??? they laid their lives in line of duty…..they are martyrs not just dead…..
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This time around … one must finish it till the end … enuf of mischief…
Pakistanis are tremling under there own pressure of stategic depth … this is a meak try… to divert attention from the home turf..Recommend
@antony:
Couldn’t agree more. We don’t need it again.
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Neither country needs this or wants this – stop already please – both sides! For God’s sake! Enough already!! If all of Europe can be friends after WW2, why can’t we??
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Please read the news carefully. The skirmishes started after the death of an Indian soldier. So who is the aggressor?
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Both the parties should play with the cool head,investigate the matter and make sure such things not happen again.
No more war. Both should spend money on the welfare of their AwamRecommend
Where are the reports of 4 Pakistani soldiers dead ? Its Indian soldiers who were caught napping in cross firing. TOI was reporting 3 Indian soldiers dead without mentioning any Pakistani causality three days back.
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who needs escalation of tension? no one i believe. pls vote for this
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Six dead or shaheed,as you please,for what? Did this solve any problem? I think such action
(avoidable though) create and complicate the already suspicious atmosphere.
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again.. who started it.
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Pakistan shut down the Chakan-da-Bagh border outpost for local trade on June 19 and suspended the weekly bus service from Rawalakot to Poonch till the other side apologies. It is almost seven month and both side are adamant for apologies. India wants apologies for two soldiers and Pakistan wants apologies for his four soldiers. It is the first time in the history of Pakistan that both east and west borders are closed waiting for apologies to come.
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@akash:
Read “Mr S” post above you will get the answer.
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This should be kept in mind that the news have been reported by an Indian news paper courtesy of Indian in înteligence,i am not washing the hands of Pak Army but as we all know & due to the fact that i have witnessed the unprovoked firing the indian side of LoC.
Anyways People of both countries don’t want any more of their money to be wasted in the name of pointless wars. Peace only Peace should be WAY forward. TcRecommend
Every time there is some movement in the talks these incidents take place looks like the deep state will not allow any progress on the talks . Hope things change after IK comes to power.
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Go back to barracks.
Saving lives is neither admission of defeat or an act cowardice.
In fact it would be the most courageous act.
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Ahhh I see we are still suffering from the “Divide & Conquer” strategy which was widely deployed by Colonialists. It’s very sad! Pakistan and India have so much in common; Culture, Language (verbal at least) & history. We should have a “Special Relationship” like the British and the Americans enjoy, but, we’ve been fighting over a piece of land for over half a century now , and the sad part is; I don’t see any of the problems being solved. not in my lifetime at least (and I’m quite a young lad)
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So much wasted so that Khaki duffers can prove to Pakistani civilian leadership that they ultimately control decisions related to trade in addition to all other decisions. Democracy in Pakistan is much like the dance of enuchs and the khaki’s sit around and throw money at them as they take turns. The people of Pakistan are nothing more than the cheap and used up carpet on which all this dancing takes place.
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