Ceasefire violations: India-Pak to hold flag meet today

A day after India lodged a protest with Pakistan over escalating ceasefire violations, the two sides will hold sector commander-level flag meeting today (Wednesday) to defuse the situation on the border. “The flag meeting between BSF and Pak Rangers is scheduled for today along the International Border (IB) in Pargwal forward belt in Akhnoor sector of Jammu”, a BSF officer said. BSF will lodge a formal protest with Pak Rangers over the ceasefire violations, firing and shelling on border out posts and civilian areas, he said.

The meeting is scheduled to be held at Nikowal Border Out Post (BOP). In the meeting, the BSF team is likely give Pak Rangers proof of their involvement in the firing and shelling on civilian areas in Arnia, R S Pura, Ramgarh, Akhnoor and Kanachak forward areas along IB in Jammu and Samba district during the last 45 days.

Two civilians were killed and 17 others including 4 BSF jawans were injured in firing and shelling by Pakistani troops during the period. India had yesterday lodged a protest with Pakistan over escalating border ceasefire violations. The protest was lodged during telephonic talks between the DGMOs (Director General Military Operations) of the two countries.

During the talks, the Indian side is believed to have raised the issue of increasing ceasefire violations and lodged a protest over the issue, Army sources had said. The two sides had also agreed to hold flag meetings at field levels by both Army and BSF to defuse the situation. The DGMOs — Lt Gen PR Kumar from India and Major General Amir Riaz from Pakistan —discussed the border situation during their talks on the hotline which takes place every Tuesday.

The BSF had said the firing by Pakistani forces in the last 45 days was possibly the “heaviest” since the 1971 war. “Yes it is (the heaviest firing) for last so many years — I think may be after the 1971 war. 45 days is a very long period for this kind of thing to happen”, BSF Director General D K Pathak had said on Tuesday. Asked about the decision to hold flag meetings at field levels by both Army and BSF to defuse the situation, Pathak had said, “I hope peace prevails”.