ISLAMABAD: Tensions between Pakistan and India simmered over Eid holidays as clashes along the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary (WB) left 10 people dead on the Pakistani side.

The clashes that started on Sunday in the Jandrot sector spread to most of the sectors along the LoC and WB by Wednesday evening and sporadic exchanges of fire were taking place.

The intensity of skirmishes, which were taking place all along the LoC and WB, was unprecedented, according to a military official.

The worst-affected sectors were Harpal, Dhamala and Charwah along the WB and Jandrot (Kotli), Hot Spring (Bagh) and Beduri (Rawalakot).

“During the past three days Indian troops repeatedly resorted to unprovoked firing all along the WB and LoC, which has resulted in the death of 10 Pakistani citizens and injuries to another 40,” a military spokesman said.

Nine of the 10 were killed in areas along the WB and three of the injured were said to be in critical condition.

The spokesman said Pakistani troops responded “befittingly” to the Indian violations. “Fire coming from across LoC or WB is being met with an effective response.”

The casualty figure on the Indian side was said to be eight.

“The prime minister has convened a meeting of the National Security Commit­tee on Friday, Oct 10, to discuss the recent ceasefire violations by India at the Line of Control and Working Boundary,” a Foreign Office statement said.

“The government of Pakistan has lodged a strong protest with the government of India through diplomatic channels and called for restraining its forces from constant violation of the ceasefire. This was the sixth violation, occurring on a daily basis since Oct 1. Indian forces violated from Akhnur, Dawar, Gulmerg, Jammu, Dawar and lastly, from Charwah sectors,” a Foreign Office spokesperson said.

The issue was raised with the UN Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan and a visit of the observers to the affected areas was being arranged.

Adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz said in a statement: “Pakistan government has been exercising utmost restraint and responsibility… Unfortunately, all our efforts to secure peace and tranquillity on the Line of Control and the Working Boundary have elicited no cooperation from the Indian side.”

Meanwhile, in India where Pakistan is blamed for starting the clashes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reported to have given a free hand to his National Security team and military to aggressively respond to the violations.

Pakistan and India had on Nov 25, 2003, agreed to observe ceasefire along all areas of WB, LoC and the Actual Ground Position Line in Jammu and Kashmir.

The ceasefire accord was by and large observed by both sides for several years. However, Pakistan military says, Indian hostility has gradually increased since 2010 making lives of civil population living in closer vicinity of the LoC and WB difficult.

Military officials say the escalation along the LoC is according to a well thought out and deliberate plan. Indian troops committed 86 ceasefire violations in 2011, 230 next year and 414 last year. According to military figures, Indians have resorted to unprovoked firing for about 224 times on both LoC and WB and killed 13 people on the Pakistani side this year.

Some find the violations along the WB perplexing because the boundary in the region is non-controversial. Incidents of violations by the Indian side along the WB this year have been 42.

Munawar Bhatti, a former additional secretary of the ministry of foreign affairs, said Indians treated WB, which separates disputed (Indian administered) Kashmir from Pakistan territory as the international boundary since 1971.

DGMOs of both countries met in December last year, which witnessed the highest number of violations since the 2003 accord, to resolve the issue of increasing ceasefire violations. A decline in ceasefire violations by Indian side was observed after the meeting.

But, military officials say, the calm on LoC and WB did not last for more than six months. Indians restarted unprovoked firing and shelling in June this year except for a brief lull last month due to floods in both parts of Kashmir.

Mr Bhatti said recent upsurge in skirmishes along the LoC and WB was linked to upcoming elections in Indian occupied Kashmir.

“The violations and the accompanying hostile statements by Indian leadership is aimed at motivating the support base before the elections,” he said, adding that the expected delay in polls in Kashmir would provide more time to the Indian side to hype up sentiments.

The BJP government is looking at winning a majority in the Kashmir assembly so that it could fulfil its manifesto pledge of revoking the special status given to Kashmir under Indian constitution’s Article 370, Mr Bhatti said.

An Indian journalist, asking not to be named, said elections in Haryana and Maharashtra were equally important for BJP for which Mr Modi is trying to sound tough.

Chairman of the Senate Defence Committee Mushahid Hussain too believes that the hard line adopted by the BJP government towards Pakistan, including the ceasefire violations, are meant to “shape the elections in Kashmir” by appealing to Hindu extremists through Pakistan bashing.

BJP government’s hard-line on Pakistan is evident from cancellation of foreign secretaries talks in August; tough statements by Prime Minister Modi and Indian Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag; tough stance on terrorism during US visit; and increased ceasefire violations.

Senator Mushahid fears that India-Pakistan ties normalisation would be on hold for some time now.

Defence analysts believe that violations by India are meant to blame Pakistan for infiltration and threat emanating for India from non-state actors from within Pakistan. At the same time, they say, Indians through this move can widen the wedge between Pakistan civilian and military leadership by promoting Pakistan Army as a violator of LoC sanctity and a hurdle in India-Pakistan trade ventures. This aspect is particularly important in the context of strained civil-military ties.

Our Correspondents add from Sialkot and Muzaffarabad: Nine civilians, including three of a family and two women, were killed and more than 33 others, including children and women, were injured in unprovoked shelling by the Indian Border Security Forces on villages of Bajra Garhi, Charwah, Meraajkey, Harpal, Sucheetgarh, Chaprar and Bajwat during Eid days.

The residents of these villages, along with their livestock and other belongings, have moved to safe places.

A woman was killed and at least five civilians were injured in Azad Kashmir by Indian shelling, officials said.

Razia Bibi, 19, was injured on Tuesday night in Darra Sher Khan village of Poonch district, police official Navid Kabir said. Later she died on way to a health facility in the neighbouring Kotli district.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2014