Sources disclosed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, during the recent meeting with the army chief, made it clear that his government did not want any escalation of tensions along the LoC. AFP/FILE
Pursuing a policy of rapprochement, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday instructed diplomatic and military officials to observe restraint during ongoing tensions with India over violations of the ceasefire agreement in the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to official sources, the prime minister also directed the foreign ministry to avoid getting bogged down in a blame game with India in the wake of recent rhetoric emanating from New Delhi.
In his maiden televised address to the nation, the prime minister once again sounded a note of conciliation when he reiterated his policy of reaching out to Pakistan’s immediate neighbours, including India.
The caution demonstrated by the premier has also trickled down to the military, which has stopped issuing statements on LoC violations following directives of the premier.
This was visible during the address of army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at Pakistan Military Academy on the eve of Independence Day celebrations, when he refrained from making any comments on the LoC violations by India.
“He could have used that address to convey a message to India but because of the government’s policy of restraint, he did not do so,” said a military source.
Sources disclosed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, during the recent meeting with the army chief, made it clear that his government did not want any escalation of tensions along the LoC.
The restraint, from all quarters in Islamabad, comes amid rising incidents of unprovoked firing by India and a steady stream of allegations by its officials against Pakistan.
On Monday, Indian Defence Minister A K Anthony, warned Pakistan that his country was running out of patience with alleged repeated ceasefire violations at the Line of Control (LoC).
However, official sources told The Express Tribune that the government had decided, in principle, not to respond to such allegations. “Our assessment is that most of these rhetorical statements coming from India are linked to their domestic political situation,” commented a foreign ministry official.
The official, who asked to remain anonymous, added that the government had taken the right approach to avoid getting involved in such ‘unnecessary war of words’ with India. “We cannot afford another front. There is lot of wisdom in government’s policy of restraint and responsibility,” said the official.
Seeking a detailed briefing on escalating tensions with India, the premier has now called a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Defence (DCC) on Thursday. Sources added that director general of military operations is expected to brief committee members on the August 6 incident which sparked the recent crisis along the Line of Control (LoC).
During the meeting, the prime minister is expected to approve measures to defuse tensions with India, sources further added.
However, a Foreign Office source revealed that an opportunity for stalling rising tensions may soon present itself.
According to the sources, Nawaz would call for de-escalation of tensions during his expected meeting with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh next month, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York.
India reportedly has informed the US that it is ready for the summit meeting between Manmohan and Nawaz, despite LoC tensions.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 21st, 2013.
COMMENTS (36)
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@Mohammad, Good advice . Forget Kashmir and concentrate on the internal problems . I think Pak should also withdraw it's forces from eastern border and deploy them to eliminate terrorists .
@Truth_Prevails: Hey that much any one will know. Read again what I have said this time you may get it right.
@Nadir: "Shame! Our military is ready to look India in the EYE! " India has seen your military in the eye several times and every time we saw only fear and demoralization due to expected impending rout.
@Water Bottle: Dear Water Bufflow, COAS did not speak to the naiton, he was giving speech to his fellow army officer, as every one will do.
@VINOD: I request Express Tribune to publish a hindi version of this news so this Indian friend could understand whats being said.
ET, so you won't publish comments with factual numbers against Indian ruse?
@Water Bottle: Because army is the only most trustworthy and credible department in Pakistan than democratic setup and we Pakistanis mostly trust army than democratic representatives in Pakistan.....
@water bottle: Army cheif delivered speech to cadets in military academy. Read & understand b4 commenting.
I say kudos to Nawaz Sharif for handling this issue maturely.
Pre-election anti-Pakistan rhetoric is common in India. We don't need to participate. We have a good upward trending stock market and some good signals being sent to foreign investors.
Actual peace talks between Pakistan and India will begin after the Indian elections.
@Muhammad: What a idea bhai. Take care of your western border first and then think about Kashmir. Wah, india will sit back and wait like a ostrich's head in the sand. Please give peace a chance otherwise indians are not going to wait for you to stabalize and wage a proxy war with imputy. NS is a good guy and stick with him for peace to workout. Rab rakha
Pakistan army needs support, not criticism . Granted that their political agendas did not help Pakistan but be no fools to think that India is dying to be at pace with us. They never will. Our army needs support if we want peace.
@Water Bottle:
Read the article again my comprehension-challenged friend:
"... the address of army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at Pakistan Military Academy on the eve of Independence Day celebrations."
Criticising for the sake of ... shows your own shallow thinking.
@VINOD: @ Nadir was being sarcastic.
India wants to divert attention from the fact that food prices rose at 9.5% YoY (vegetable +47% YoY) and fuel at 11.3% YoY and the 44% devaluation in their currency in the last 2 years (and 17% collapse in the last 3 months). Nothing get psuedo-secular fanatical Hindus excited about elections like Pakistan bashing. It is time India grows up from these petty dramas and fix real issues to help their people out of poverty.
After seeing the these most tensed conditions on LoC now only Pakistan' key military officials have to meet each others not civilian leadership because India understands only military language not civil......
“No diplomatic channel is open with Pakistan right now” So all is closed where the tension could be defused but all the news channels are open for journalists, analysts and retire Generals, Admirals, Air marshals of both countries to add fuel into the fire. Is it free media or fool media?
Pakistani government looks confused so is their Indian counterparts. Both are under pressure Pakistani Government apparently by Army and Indian by their over offensive media, opposition party / upcoming elections and concealed stress by the Army.
Yeah they slap on our one cheek and you present them the other too that's what our "liberals" want from us
Express Tribune has become a trolling place for Indians and that perhaps is what ET wants. While Express Tribune enjoys Pakistan getting humiliated at the hands of these 'neighbours', our comment would never make it to their websites even if it is just 10% of the gravity. If I were in government, I would send ET packing the same day.
@VINOD: The HE you mentioned means General Kiyani. So its the other way round, Government advising Military on the strategy...the way it should be :-) So Big Boy, Stand Down!
As always, 'jangi junoon' can't let India sit in peace with its neighbors.
How helpless 'heavy mandated' Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif !
Very good Nawas, if Pakistan army behaves like this, I'm sure we Indians will have no problems with it. Finally Pakistan understands how to behave.
Why does a COAS deliver a speech to the public on the eve of independence day? It's clear, who is in power in Pakistan.
I have my doubt in this story; military sources may have make up the story and tell that it is due to PM; general Kayani did not mention on LOC due to PM instructions. But my thinking is that this story is only done to satisfy local audience means this story is plotted by military. Pakistan military knows that they cannot take hard stand on LOC because of forces on western front. It will be strategically wrong for military to take tough stand on India at this stage as it will hurt Pakistan and Pakistan military interests.
Instead of advertising its so called policy of restraint , if Pakistan follows the policy, good results will follow. However what will be most effective is tangible steps against anti-India militants groups that infiltrate into India.
Despite my political differences with NS, have to give it to the man for staying calm in the middle of rising clamour from Indian side. For a country six times the size of Pakistan in terms of population to cool off its domestic political steam by venting anger at Pakistan is certainly a sad state of affairs.
Thank God! The Kargil War was so embarrassing. We don't need another war. Focus on the Taliban and BLA first. Then, we'll think about liberating Kashmir.
@Nadir: Shame for what? For trying sincerely to bring some peace in the subcontinent and some order in Chaos of blood shed, murder, explosions. And restraining the blood shed of brave soldiers who are being killed to satisfy the ego of some.
"He could have used that address to convey a message to India but because of the government’s policy of restraint, he did not do so,” said a military source."
Army advising or reprimanding the PM of the country. I say great.
I hate to say this, but NS has taken the right course of action. Keep it like that. No need to escalate anything with India right now.
India is in big trouble with its economy, Indian rupee is being nailed hard. No where near a basket case like ours... but compared to the rest of the big boys (yes India is a huge world player), its in trouble. It looks to only get worse.
So NS and the rest, shut up and get on with the reforms you promised...
" Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday instructed diplomatic and military officials to observe restraint during ongoing tensions with India " Fellow Indians please be ready for more border issues !! Now that the Government of India and the Defence Ministry has given full powers to the Army to reply and retaliate, suddenly now Mr. Sharif wants to de-escalate ! The damage has been done and the meeting has been called off. Foreign Minister confirmed yesterday night. " Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid said he "agreed with the BJP, talks and terror don't go together ". No diplomatic channel is open with Pakistan right now he added.
Pakistan government, bureaucrats, military and media is far more mature and believe in establishment of peace with india as compared their respective counterparts in India who are begging for war and state of destruction for over 1.5 billion poor people in two countries.
Mian Sahab knows who the real trouble makers are. In a very smart way he has conveyed the message. Let hope it registers.
Shame! Our military is ready to look India in the EYE! but our corrupt civilians do not let the brave Generals take on India! Pakistanis should apologise to Pak Army for failing them once again.