Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers stand guard along fencing near the India-Pakistan border outpost. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Pakistan Army lodged a protest with Indian authorities on Sunday over what it said was another violation of ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC).
According to military officials, the protest was lodged after Indian troops resorted to ‘unprovoked firing’ after midnight at the Bhattal sector of the LoC.
“Indian troops fired small arms and launched mortars, which prompted Pakistani troops to respond effectively,” a military official said. “No loss of life or damage to property has been reported so far.”
This was the third ceasefire violation in the last three weeks. The two armies accused each other of breaching the 2003 ceasefire agreement on April 25, breaking almost three months of calm in the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir. Three days later, the two sides exchanged fire again. Although, no loss of life was reported from either side during the latest clashes, the situation indicates the fragile nature of the truce.
The latest clashes come at a time when India is in the midst of parliamentary elections. Pre-election forecast puts Narendra Modi of hardline Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the frontrunner. Critics fear Modi’s victory may not auger well for the peace process between Pakistan and India. The BJP candidate has taken a tough line on Islamabad.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 12th, 2014.
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To Pak Army: Stop protesting, and start retaliating!
@Anon: It is India that is desperate for war, not Pakistan. That is why India's military budget is five times more than Pakistan, and India is the world's largest importer of military weapons. It is you and rest of the war mongering Indians who need to think twice, and if you really want to give peace a chance then demonstrate it by ending Indian occupation of Kashmir. Stop pretending to be innocent, because you are not.
Pakistan is looking desperately for a war with India. Don't know why they are so fond of war. We Indians are looking for all necessary measures for peace while Pakistan is only chanting war. God knows what Pakistan will benefit from war with India?
Or may be Pakistan is thinking China will help them in war with India, but they don't know that China will not do any such social work for free. It will be China who will be at loss as their huge developed economy will be just destroyed to ashes for no reason which they will never want.
India and Pakistan will not be at much loss because as it is we are already destroyed from within by our own internal matters.
So my Pakistani friends please think twice, and give peace a chance...it will be good for both of us...
Obviously! Pakistan is always the innocent child who gets bullied by India, Afghanistan, Iran, and sometimes even by the fish of Indian ocean.