M A I N   N E W S

LoC peaceful after DGMOs’ parleys
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 17
Some semblance of peace has been restored along the volatile Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir after the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan spoke to each other yesterday.

The Indian DGMO Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia and his counterpart Maj Gen Ashfaq Nadeem had spoken to each other on Wednesday on the hotline. They are mandated to speak to each other once a week but can call up anytime in the case of a crisis. The hotline ensures that the two officials tasked by their respective nations to plan military operations remain in touch and thrash out matters at their level instead of allowing a free-for-all at the LoC.

The two DGMOs had arrived at an understanding to restore peace along the LoC following heavy firing and skirmishes since January 6. At the time of filing this report, there were no reports of any firing from across the LoC, officials today confirmed.

The 2003 ceasefire agreement binds troops on both sides to maintain peace. In 2012, there were 117 violations.

Recounting the last 12 days, officials said those were testing times at the LoC. It all started on January 6 when Pakistan alleged that one its soldiers had been killed in firing by Indian troops in the Uri sector. The Pak DGMO called up his counterpart to lodge a protest on January 7. The Pakistan foreign ministry issued a demarche to the Indian diplomat the same day. Two Indian soldiers were killed next day. One of them was beheaded. That led to an exchange of fire the next day in which one Pakistan soldier was reportedly killed.

On January 11, India suggested a Brigade-level flag meeting to which Pakistan agreed on January 13. The meeting held next day produced no result. Intense shelling was reported the same day.

India, in the meantime, hardened its stand with Defence Minister AK Antony terming the beheading a “turning point”. The Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne took it one step further, telling Pakistan that “other options were being considered to maintain peace along the LoC”. On January 14 Army Chief promised “retaliation”. The next day the Prime Minister declared, “It cannot be business as usual”.