Top commanders look to defuse LoC tension
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.
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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.
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)
Go back to barracks. Saving lives is neither admission of defeat or an act cowardice. In fact it would be the most courageous act.
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.
@akash: Read "Mr S" post above you will get the answer.
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.
again.. who started it.
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.
who needs escalation of tension? no one i believe. pls vote for this
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.
Please read the news carefully. The skirmishes started after the death of an Indian soldier. So who is the aggressor?
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??
@antony:
Couldn't agree more. We don't need it again.
"Four Pakistani soldiers were also reported dead" dead??? they laid their lives in line of duty.....they are martyrs not just dead.....
Its the Indian who started it. By God... We will not take prisoners this time.
Not again! ..No mischief please..Neither of the countries civilians need this!!
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 !