Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 12: Pakistan has so far not responded to Indian Army’s offer for a Brigade Commander level flag meeting to de-escalate tensions on the Line of Control (LoC) especially in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district where two Indian Army jawans were killed on Tuesday morning by Pakistani troops.
It was for the first time since Tuesday that the LoC remained peaceful in entire Poonch sector with no incident of firing reported from either side during the day, official sources said.
They said entire LoC in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch was calm today and no incident of firing was reported from anywhere. LoC in Poonch district was peaceful while the ceasefire violations by Pakistan Army were reported from Krishna Ghati sector only in Poonch district.
The KG sector was peaceful even yesterday. However, it was in Balakote and Balnoi areas of Mendhar that Pakistan Army had resorted to firing yesterday but today it was peace all along the LoC in Poonch district.
Sources said Indian Army was awaiting response of Pakistan for a Brigade Commander level flag meeting to take measures to de-escalate tensions on the LoC, which had aggravated after Tuesday’s brutal killing of two Indian Army jawans by Pakistan Army’s commandos after intrusions inside the Indian territory.
Retaliatory firing by the Indian troops on Thursday had led to the killing of one Pakistan Army jawan.
The Indian Army had yesterday offered Brigade Commander level flag meeting to Pakistan on the hotline to discuss the issues arising out of the firing and restore normalcy along the LoC.
Sources confirmed that Pakistan Army hasn’t responded to its offer of flag meeting so far.
“We are awaiting the Pakistan response but they haven’t responded so far. We are hopeful of a Brigade Commander level flag meeting taking place between the two sides shortly”, sources said.
It may be mentioned here that tensions had escalated between Indo-Pak troops in Krishna Ghati sector in June last year after the killing of a jawan on this side of the LoC leading to regular exchange of firing between the two sides.
The tensions had subsided only after the Brigade Commander level flag meeting, sources recalled.
Meanwhile, some local people said they planned to march toward the Army pickets in forward areas of Mendhar to boost morale of the jawans and hold anti-Pakistan protests against the killing of two Indian soldiers.
The march was planned for tomorrow, sources said, adding that they fully stand by the Army in any situation and were ready to even fight against the Pakistani troops.