‘LoC ceasefire linked to situation in IIOJK’
Army soldier stands guard at a hilltop post during a trip organised by the army, near the Line of Control (LoC), in Charikot Sector, Azad Kashmir July 22, 2020. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
Defence experts speaking at a webinar termed the Indian willingness to restore the ceasefire agreement on the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan is mere eyewash.
Though the experts welcomed the Indian aspiration for peace on the LoC, they termed the move ‘getting a breathing space for their strategic gain’ and to divert the world’s attention from the actual situation in the Illegally Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
They said the agreement was inked in 2003 that was revoked by the Indian government unilaterally in 2014 to intensify atrocities in IIOJK. Pakistan and India on Thursday said that they had recommitted themselves to the 2003 ceasefire arrangement at the Line of Control and agreed to address the ‘core issues’ that could undermine peace and stability.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed said Islamabad should ask New Delhi to show their seriousness by restoring the IIOJK position as it was on August 4, 2019. All the Kashmiri leaders should be released from the illegal detention and the occupation of their lands should be reversed.
He asked India to realize that its Pakistan bashing strategy has failed miserably. Lt Gen (retd) Talaat Masood said the ceasefire could last for long though India could not stop itself for long violating the LoC.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 28th, 2021.