Despite facing the brunt of heavy shelling along the Line of Control in Poonch and Rajouri sectors large number of border residents living in the direct line of firing on Thursday reacted cautiously to the joint statement by the India and Pakistan army to strictly observe all agreements, understandings and ceasefire along the Line of Control and all other sectors with effect from midnight 24/25 Feb 2021.
"We have been repeatedly targeted by the roaring Pak guns in the forward areas. We want to live in peace and cultivate our fields. But due to heightened tension in the region we were not able to do so for a long time. Students in the region suffered the most due to prolonged suspension of classes due to repeated incidents of cross LoC firing, Mohd Imitiyaz of village Shahpur in Poonch said.
A local panch in the area claimed, we cannot trust Pakistan so easily. It's in the habit of pushing infiltrators via this route. Our parents suffered due to regular shelling. Now our generation is also facing the same. We regularly pray and want peace to prevail. The reaction of border residents in the Nowshera area of Rajouri was no different. Most of the villagers engaged in the farming activity said, we always want peace to prevail and lead peaceful lives without facing the brunt of border firing. We have seen armies standing eyeball to eyeball and now we want to see our next generation to live in peace and focus on their careers.
Meanwhile, political parties in Jammu and Kashmir welcomed the agreement between armies of India and Pakistan on ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and other sectors.
“We welcome it and hope that the statement will be followed in letter & spirit. JKNC has always been a strong supporter of the ceasefire along the LoC,” the party said in a statement.“This will allow people living along the LoC & IB (International Border) to go about their normal lives with minimal disruption & risk,” the party said.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti in a tweet welcomed the ceasefire announcement and said dialogue was the only way forward.
“A big & welcome development that India & Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire along the LoC. Dialogue is the only way forward if both countries want to stop the unending cycle of violence & bloodshed across the borders and J&K,” Mehbooba said.
In a statement, Congress party said that it always favoured any intiatives aimed at restoration of peace on the borders and LOC and ensuring safety of our residents and jawans in Jammu and Kashmir but questioned whether the infiltration and cross border terrorism has been stopped by Pakistan.Reacting to the latest developments, JKPCC Chief G A Mir Thursday questioned the Modi government for it's flip flop policy as it had been stating that the talks and terrorism / cross border firing can't go together.
BJP had been always saying that the no talks are possible with Pakistan till it stops cross border terrorism and infiltration. It had been targetting the previous UPA government for track two diplomacy and dialogue on the ground that no talks should be held till Pakistan stops cross border Terrorism and firing . It always advocated tough posturing with Pakistan by claiming that you need a 56" chest to deal with Pakistan.