Pakistan, India to hold flag meeting at LoC today
Indian defence ministry says field commanders from both sides will discuss modalities to defuse border tensions
PHOTO: AFP
Pakistan and India will hold a brigadier-level flag meeting on the Poonch Sector of the Line of Control (LoC) on Monday, in a bid to restore the ‘sanctity’ of the ceasefire.
“Ceasefire violations have escalated in the last few days, resulting in large number of civilian causalities and collateral damage to properties. The field commanders from both sides will discuss modalities to defuse tense situation on the border,’’ Indian defence ministry spokesperson Colonel SD Goswami told Indian Express.
Read: Pakistan, India agree to stop ceasefire violations at working boundary
The flag meeting at Chakkan Da Bagh crossing point between the two sides last took place in January 2014.
The meeting comes days after a meeting between director general (DG) of Pakistan Rangers and India's Border Security Force to restore ceasefire at the working boundary to save lives of innocent civilians.
The breakthrough came at the bi-annual meeting between Pakistan Rangers and Indian Border Security Force (BSF). The meeting was held under a ‘cordial atmosphere’ with both sides also agreeing to carryout joint investigations of future ceasefire violations.
Read: Ceasefire violations: Indian envoy summoned to lodge protest
Indian authorities also agreed to enhance communication via multiple modes at all possible levels to maintain peace on working boundary.
After Pakistan strongly raised the issue of killing of Rangers personnel during flag meeting, Director General BSF assured that no such incident would reoccur in the future. Both sides also reached consensus to move forward while agreeing to conduct joint investigations if any such incident occurred in the future. Refuting the allegations levied by BSF that Pakistan provides support to people crossing into India illegally, Pakistan Rangers reiterated its stance that it does not support any border crossing as a policy.
Read: DG-level talks: Armed exchanges along LoC, WB Pakistan’s top concern
However, despite the agreement, ceasefire violations continue at the LoC and Working Boundary.
This article originally appeared on Indian Express.
“Ceasefire violations have escalated in the last few days, resulting in large number of civilian causalities and collateral damage to properties. The field commanders from both sides will discuss modalities to defuse tense situation on the border,’’ Indian defence ministry spokesperson Colonel SD Goswami told Indian Express.
Read: Pakistan, India agree to stop ceasefire violations at working boundary
The flag meeting at Chakkan Da Bagh crossing point between the two sides last took place in January 2014.
The meeting comes days after a meeting between director general (DG) of Pakistan Rangers and India's Border Security Force to restore ceasefire at the working boundary to save lives of innocent civilians.
The breakthrough came at the bi-annual meeting between Pakistan Rangers and Indian Border Security Force (BSF). The meeting was held under a ‘cordial atmosphere’ with both sides also agreeing to carryout joint investigations of future ceasefire violations.
Read: Ceasefire violations: Indian envoy summoned to lodge protest
Indian authorities also agreed to enhance communication via multiple modes at all possible levels to maintain peace on working boundary.
After Pakistan strongly raised the issue of killing of Rangers personnel during flag meeting, Director General BSF assured that no such incident would reoccur in the future. Both sides also reached consensus to move forward while agreeing to conduct joint investigations if any such incident occurred in the future. Refuting the allegations levied by BSF that Pakistan provides support to people crossing into India illegally, Pakistan Rangers reiterated its stance that it does not support any border crossing as a policy.
Read: DG-level talks: Armed exchanges along LoC, WB Pakistan’s top concern
However, despite the agreement, ceasefire violations continue at the LoC and Working Boundary.
This article originally appeared on Indian Express.