India on Monday said ensuring the sanctity of the de facto Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan was of primary importance as the Indian Army continued an operation to evict suspected Islamist militants holed up Jammu and Kashmir’s Keran area.
“We have repeatedly emphasized that the maintenance of sanctity of Line of Control is of primary importance. Even at the last meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, this issue was re-emphasized,” Syed Akbaruddin, spokesman for the Indian foreign ministry, told reporters. He was referring to a meeting between the two leaders in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting on 29 September. During talks it was decided that the directors general of military operations from the Indian and Pakistan armies would meet and discuss ways to keep the border peace.
A 2003 agreement to ensure a ceasefire along their common borders has been violated several times this year with media reports putting the number at between 50-60. In January, two Indian soldiers were apparently beheaded by Pakistani troops who crossed the LoC. In August, five Indian soldiers were killed in a similar ambush straining ties between the two neighbours.
According to media reports, the Indian Army is currently trying to evict an unspecified number of Islamist militants holed up in Kashmir’s Keran sector. Referring to this, Akbaruddin said “our armed forces who are responsible (for maintaining the) sanctity (of the LoC are) currently undertaking appropriate necessary measures... Based on the outcome of those efforts, we will take the further necessary action, as appropriate”.
Asked when the directors general of military operations of India and Pakistan would meet to lessen border tensions in the Kashmir region, as was agreed in the meeting between the two prime ministers, Akbaruddin said the senior military officers were in contact via a hotline every Tuesday and a meeting would depend on their telephonic conversation.
“We have repeatedly emphasized that the maintenance of sanctity of Line of Control is of primary importance. Even at the last meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, this issue was re-emphasized,” Syed Akbaruddin, spokesman for the Indian foreign ministry, told reporters. He was referring to a meeting between the two leaders in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting on 29 September. During talks it was decided that the directors general of military operations from the Indian and Pakistan armies would meet and discuss ways to keep the border peace.
A 2003 agreement to ensure a ceasefire along their common borders has been violated several times this year with media reports putting the number at between 50-60. In January, two Indian soldiers were apparently beheaded by Pakistani troops who crossed the LoC. In August, five Indian soldiers were killed in a similar ambush straining ties between the two neighbours.
According to media reports, the Indian Army is currently trying to evict an unspecified number of Islamist militants holed up in Kashmir’s Keran sector. Referring to this, Akbaruddin said “our armed forces who are responsible (for maintaining the) sanctity (of the LoC are) currently undertaking appropriate necessary measures... Based on the outcome of those efforts, we will take the further necessary action, as appropriate”.
Asked when the directors general of military operations of India and Pakistan would meet to lessen border tensions in the Kashmir region, as was agreed in the meeting between the two prime ministers, Akbaruddin said the senior military officers were in contact via a hotline every Tuesday and a meeting would depend on their telephonic conversation.
Credits: livemint
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