PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
NEW DELHI: India's army has reached an "understanding" with Pakistan to "de-escalate" military tensions in Kashmir after a recent deadly flare-up in the disputed border region, a military spokesperson told AFP Wednesday.
"An understanding has been arrived at between the two director-generals of military operations to de-escalate the situation along the Line of Control," spokesperson Jagdeep Dahiya said in reference to the de facto border in Kashmir.
Dahiya said that the two sides' senior military commanders had spoken for 10 minutes over the telephone where they reached their agreement.
"The two DGMOs spoke to each other at 10:00 am (local time) for 10 minutes and the Pakistan DGMO said strict instructions have been passed not to violate the ceasefire," he said.
Dahiya said Indian troops stationed along the border would also not breach the ceasefire forged between the two nuclear-armed rivals in 2003.
"We have always upheld the ceasefire and have only retaliated," the spokesperson said.
He did not give further details of the conversation between India's DGMO Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia and his Pakistani counterpart, Major General Ashfaq Nadeem.
An ISPR press release stated that Pakistan lodged strong protest over Tuesday night cease-fire violation by Indians.
An Indian military source in Kashmir told AFP there had been no cross-border firing since the two generals spoke.
The Indian army’s chief of staff had on Monday ordered his commanders to give an “aggressive” response to any firing by Pakistani forces along the de facto border in disputed Kashmir.
“We expect our commanders to be aggressive,” General Bikram Singh said ahead of a meeting between Indian and Pakistani commanders to discuss a recent deadly flare-up in the region.
“The orders are very clear: when provoked, I expect my unit commanders should fire back,” he added.
Pakistan army to protest against death of soldier
The Pakistani army said on Wednesday it will protest to India over the killing of another Pakistani soldier in Kashmir, the fifth fatality in hostilities between the nuclear-armed neighbours this year.
Indian troops shot dead the soldier at a position called Kundi during firing from the Indian side of the Line of Control in the disputed Himalayan territory, Pakistan’s army said in a statement.
The Indian defence ministry declined to comment.
COMMENTS (15)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
there will be no fight between the two countries. so why all this negativity? so many of you act as if pakistan or india are older than muhanjidaro, the upanishads, or sufi islam. Get some perspective. The region that is pakistan and india are older than europe, russia, or arabia. Our ancestors are ancient and proud. So why do you bicker like this? Over a flag? That green and white flag with a moon and star and that orange, blue, and green flag with a wheel are modern inventions. Remember our history before speaking with such open hostilities!
In pakistan and india the biggest problems are: 1. religious extremists amongst hindues, muslims, and sikhs 2. incredible disparity, poverty, illiteracy, sewage, &c 3. corruption 4. foreign interference
we should fight those things as a people rather than fighting each other! Both M Singh and A Zaradri are crooks. America will only destroy us. And Saudi is already creating civil war in the region. We ourselves must unite while accepting our differences. Eventually, both pakistan and india will disappear, but the people will never disappear. We will always continue. The only question is: what will that look like? Will it be brother killing brother or will it be brother helping brother?!
"@Vikas:Finally Pakistan understood after the death of 2 soldiers from each side? Why couldn’t they understand before and have saved the lives of these soldiers." Thanks India understood this condition after the deaths of Indian troops on Indian Occupied Kashmir's side and why India couldn't understand before and didn't save Indian troops' lives?Till now the time didn't go very far and we can settle down and resolve our all issues amicably and peacefully without engaging/involving armies in the political issues and matters between Pakistan and India...
If Congress ( present ruling party of India) eyeing for winning the next general elections, then war is the best option. If Congress initiates the war against Pakistan then whole India will support the move and Congress will win comfortably. Though I am not in favour of war, I am afraid there will be one in next twelve months.
@Hassam: It started with Pakistanis firing at a newly constructed outpost at LOC in Indian Territory which Pakistanis took offense to and fired at. Pakistani soldier died in this retaliatory fire. This is the genesis of current crisis.
@Asif Butt: you agree?? fantastic
Whdoes Pakistan not stop sending infiltrators into India across LOC? Do they need proof that they are doing it?
@Vikas:
You make it sound like as if you are the prime witness to the self-assumed fact that it was Pakistan who started all this.
Sure , your crow is white , I agree ....
Vikas - perhaps you and other friends aren't aware of the chain of events that took place. Pakistan lost a soldier first on 6th Jan, when 2 were injured of which 1 succumbed to his injuries after a Pakistani check post was attacked(retaliatory or not, the first victim was from Pakistan). The two Indian soldiers died on the 8th. Another Pakistani soldier was killed on the 10th, which was followed by this latest shooting of a Pakistani soldier. So please, before making judgement calls, look at the facts first. These can be corroborated by The Hindu newspaper in India if you feel Pakistani newspapers aren't trust worthy. Pakistan should not be blamed in it's entirety for this escalation. You can't clap with one hand.
Pakistan is overwhelmed with its problems and does not need any more. It was clearly started by Indian Army as a golden opportunity to pressurise and malign Pakistan.
It is yet to be seen how much mileage did Manmohan Singh got out of this using this incident to divert people attention from the charges of corruption his government is facing.
Indian trolls: Face the truth and not fall prey to your government's propaganda
Any agreement with the Indians isn't worth the paper it is written on, as evidenced by the killing of yet another Pakistani soldier. Pakistan needs to strike deep into India now, otherwise these murderers will not stop.
Gen Singh has no competence to discuss kashmir occupation; his function is of a watchman to mak sure that all is quiet on the LOC. Good job.
Rex Minor
Finally Pakistan understood after the death of 2 soldiers from each side? Why couldn't they understand before and have saved the lives of these soldiers.
“We expect our commanders to be aggressive,” General Bikram Singh said ahead of a meeting between Indian and Pakistani commanders to discuss a recent deadly flare-up in the region."----------- it worked !!!