Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 24: With the Brigade Commander-level talks between India and Pakistan held at Chakan-Da-Bagh in Poonch sector going off smoothly yesterday, the Army is hoping to restart repair work on the three-tier border-fencing damaged by heavy snowfall in winters.
“Brigade Commanders’ flag meeting to discuss various issues after ceasefire violations was held in cordial manner and we hope to start the border-fencing work soon,” senior Army officials hoped today.
Talks between Poonch Brigade Commander Brig M K Maggoo and Brig Talat Qayoom of 2 ‘AK’ Brigade of Rawlakote, Pakistan were held in cordial environment.
Pakistan had earlier objected to the fresh construction with regard to border fencing but allowed us to go for repair work, he said.
“Our problem is that various stretches of the border fencing have been washed away and we need re-constructions in those sections,” the Army officers said.
Heavy snowfall during winters has damaged several stretches of border fencing along the Line of Control (LoC) in various parts of the State including Poonch district.
The Brigade Commander-level meeting, which took place yesterday, discussed border fencing repair work, restart of LoC trade, ceasefire violations and other issues. India had lodged very strong protest over ceasefire violations by Pakistan in Krishna Ghati sector for over a month. Both sides had, however, agreed to maintain ceasefire agreement of November 2002.
Army has already sent a detailed briefing to Ministry of Defence and Army Headquarters on the ceasefire violations in Krishna Ghati sector.
JK shared 740 km LoC with Pakistan.
These stretches of fences are infiltration points for the militants after the snow starts melting in summer. “That is why damaged stretches need immediate repair,” the official said.
PTI adds from New Delhi:
India is likely to raise the issue of ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch area of Jammu and Kashmir during Foreign Secretary-level talks in July.
Two Indian troopers lost their lives and five others were injured in the unprovoked firing by Pakistani troops in the Krishna Ghati sector.
The issue is likely to be raised during the Foreign Secretary-level talks next month, Army sources said in New Delhi.
India has protested the ceasefire violations during a flag meeting on Saturday, they said.
There have been frequent and continuing ceasefire violations along the LoC in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district in last fortnight in which two Indian soldiers were killed and five others critically injured.
India and Pakistan have been observing ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) since 2002.
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