Pakistan, India DGMOs agree to reduce tensions along LoC
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ISLAMABAD: India and Pakistan's directors general of military operations (DGMOs) spoke to each other on hotline on Tuesday in a bid to defuse tensions along the heavily militarised Line of Control (LoC).
“Both sides mutually agreed to reduce tension along the Line of Control and working boundary,” read a short statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Sources told Dawn.com that during the conversation, both sides discussed the prevailing situation along with the Line of Control (LoC) and the working boundary. Both sides agreed to share certain information with a view to ensure peace in the coming days.
The working boundary dividing the disputed Kashmir region has recently witnessed a spike in tensions and exchange of firing from both sides.
Last week, Pakistan suggested India to hold an urgent meeting of the two countries' DGMOs in order to discuss the situation at the border and “stop the current spate of firing along the working boundary”.
Ceasefire violations along the LoC and working boundary between Pakistan and India continue intermittently, with casualties reported on both sides.
On Saturday, firing by Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) personnel along the working boundary killed at least two people, and injured four others in Sialkot. In Charwa and Chaparral sectors of Sialkot, firing of heavy weapons and mortar shells provoked retaliation from the Chenab Rangers and exchange of fire.
On Monday, five people were severely injured in firing by the BSF in Charwa and Chaparral sectors – the 26th violation of the ceasefire agreement between the two sides.
Official sources say unprovoked firing by Indian troops on the working boundary has been continuing for the past many weeks.
In 2013, Pakistan and India pledged to uphold the 2003 ceasefire accord which has been marred by repeated violations.
Both countries have engaged in allegations, denials and counter allegations over the firing incidents. Last year, in a meeting, the DGMOs of the two countries had agreed to a number of steps to keep the ceasefire accord intact.
