Spate of violations: DGMOs to reduce cross-border, LoC tensions

India reportedly did not act upon Pakistan’s suggestion for possible BSF-Rangers meeting

ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI: The Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan spoke on their hotline on Tuesday to help de-escalate the cross-border tension between the two countries, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement. It said both sides mutually agreed to reduce tension along the Line of Control (LoC) and working boundary.

A myriad of issues were discussed, including a possible meeting between the area commanders of the Border Security Force and the Pakistan Rangers, according to officials. However, India did not act upon this reported suggestion by Pakistan for meeting of the two DGMOs.

A recent spate of LoC and working boundary violations since July has resulted in casualties and injuries, when Indian troops resorted to unprovoked firing. On July 20, a man was killed in Mirajke after the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) allegedly opened fire. Later on July 23, the working boundary between India and Pakistan was violated when one person was killed in Shakargarh sector.

On August 1, Indian troops resorted to unprovoked firing along the LoC in Gultari sector, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

On Saturday, BSF shelling along the working boundary killed at least two people, and injured four others in Sialkot. Another civilian was injured on Sunday. Again on Monday, BSF resorted to firing in Charwa and Chaparral sectors, which severely injured five people.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley held a meeting with the three heads of the Indian military amid renewed firing on the border to take stock of the military situation. The BSF director general said the firing across the border was the worst ever since 1971.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2014.