In an effort to defuse tension on India-Pakistan border in Jammu & Kashmir, both the countries on Tuesday agreed to hold flag meetings along the line of Control (loC) and International Border in the coming days. Defence Minister Arun Jaitley was also apprised by the Services Chiefs about the ground situation along the border in the wake of repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan in the last few days.
The decision to hold flag meetings was taken during the ten-minute talks at about 12 pm on the hotline between Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMO) lt General PR Kumar and Major General Safraz Chaudhary of India and Pakistan respectively.
"All relevant issues were raised and both the sides agreed to hold flag meetings at field levels by both Army and Border Security Force (BSF) to defuse situation," Army officials said here later. The two DGMOs talk to each other every Tuesday to address contentious issues on the loC as part of confidence building measure.
The dates and venues for flag meetings will be mutually decided by India and Pakistan and sources said the parleys were likely to take place towards the week end. local Army commanders of both sides will hold talks on the loC while the BSF and Pakistan Rangers will meet on the International Border.
India lodged a strong protest over frequent unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistan on the loC and International Border leading to panic amongst people living in villages on the border. Pakistan was also informed that at least two civilians died in firing and many people fled from their homes.
The loC has so far seen 96 ceasefire violations by Pakistan this year besides 25 on the International Border. The comparative figures for the corresponding period last year stood at 92 (loC) and seven on the International Border.
Officials said one of the main reasons for ceasefire violations and targeting Indian security posts on the International Border was to enable militants infiltrate into Jammu & Kashmir. However, strong retaliatory action by BSF prevented any major infiltration, they said adding the BSF and Army had further strengthened their counter-infiltration and counter-insurgency grids on the International Border and loC respectively.
Meanwhile, Jaitley took stock of security situation with the three Services Chiefs here besides status of progress regarding infrastructure including roads and airfields on the India-China frontier, they said.
Where guns do the talking!
The dates and venues for flag meetings will be mutually decided by India & Pakistan and the parleys were likely to take place towards the weekend
The loC has so far seen 96 ceasefire violations by Pakistan this year besides 25 on the International Border
One of the main reasons for ceasefire violations and targeting Indian security posts on the International Border was to enable militants to infiltrate into the Valley