NEW DELHI: Amidst tension at the Line of Control-- de facto border between India and Pakistan, top military commanders of both countries on Monday held telephonic conversation to discuss the prevailing situation along the border.
According to official sources, Pakistani side asked for the talk to lodge a protest over alleged killing of some civilians on their side by Indian army’s retaliatory firing to Pakistani ceasefire violations, which was strongly denied by the Indian side.
Stating that needless escalations by Pak Army were highlighted during the conversation, the statement issued by the Indian army said that on the issue raised by Pakistani DGMO Maj Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza regarding civilian killings, Lt Gen AK Bhatt conveyed that the Indian Army “is a professional Army and will not harm civilians in any manner.”
“Based on request by Pak DGMO, the DGMO level talks were held today at 1030 hrs. The issue discussed related to the current situation along the LoC,” Indian Army said in a statement.
Last time both DGMOs held talk was on May 2, a day after the beheading of two Indian soldiers by Pakistani side.
On Monday, after the unscheduled talks,the statement said that DGMO Indian Army Lt Gen AK Bhatt conveyed his commitment of ensuring peace and tranquility which is “contingent” on Pak Army’s intentions and actions. But told his Pakistani counterpart that any attempt by the Pakistan military to resort to unprovoked firings along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir and abet infiltrators would be met with "appropriate retaliatory actions".
“If Pak Army continues to abet infiltrations and cause trans-LoC firings, Indian Army will take appropriate retaliatory actions,” Lt Gen Bhatt conveyed to his Pakistani counterpart.
Today's talks became crucial as military intelligence has suspected increase in infiltration from cross border with strong support from the Pakistan army..
It said Lt Gen Bhatt highlighted cases of escalations of tension by the Pakistan Army during the conversation. So far, in this year, at least 65 terrorists have been gunned down by security forces and till May end, Pakistani side has violated the ceasefire agreement by 155 times and at least 19 infiltration bids were foiled by the army so far. However, to counter militancy, 19 security personnel have laid their lives so far
On Saturday, the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had claimed infiltration by terrorists from across the Line of Control nto Jammu and Kashmir has declined by 45 percent post surgical strikes last year but the security establishment apprehends that infiltrations will actually begin full throttle as it is only now that snow has started melting at all the major ingress routes giving Pakistan-backed militants a window of four to five months. At least 200 fully trained militants are waiting to sneak in from launch pads located close to the LOC in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK).
And army has also enhanced its anti-infiltration grid and now working overtime to prevent infiltration by repositioning troops along the LOC especially in the higher reaches of North Kashmir and “resuscitating” the anti-infiltration fence damaged due to snow.