With both the countries agreeing last month to observe ceasefire on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu & Kashmir, Army Chief General MM Naravane said here on Thursday the border is silent for the first time in around five to six years with not a single shot fired in March.
The Army Chief, however, said the terror infrastructure, including terrorist launch-pads, on the Pakistani side remained intact and asserted that it cannot be business as usual unless the neighbouring country stops supporting terrorism.
Speaking at a conclave, Naravane said he was optimistic that the ceasefire will hold as the Pakistan Army was on board. “I am glad to inform that in the whole month of March, we have not had a single shot fired at the Line of Control (LoC) barring an odd incident. It is for the first time in about five or six years that the LoC has been silent. That really bodes well for the future,” he said.
Last month, the Indian and Pakistani armies recommitted themselves to the 2003 ceasefire agreement on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. The return to the ceasefire was agreed upon by the director generals of military operations (DGMO) of the two countries.
“Our core issue is that they have to stop support to terrorism. Unless they stop that it cannot be business as usual,” Naravane said.
Asked what could have prompted Pakistan to suddenly agree to the ceasefire, Naravane said the duels between the two sides had not resulted any forward movement and that Islamabad has its own internal problems.