Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: India will celebrate Republic Day with Pakistan and China tomorrow along the Line of Control (LoC), International Border (IB) and Line of Actual Control (LAC) to commit itself to maintenance of peace along the borders.
“India and Pakistan will celebrate the India’s Republic Day tomorrow at both LoC and IB,” official sources told the Excelsior.
On August 15, 2015, the Indian troops had refused to celebrate the Independence Day with Pakistan army personnel due to continued shelling and firing on the LoC. Even on the Independence Day, Pakistan had resorted to heavy shelling and firing on the Indian villages, killing six civilians and injuring several others in Balakote sector of Mendhar tehsil in Poonch district.
However, in October, the Indo-Pak troops held Brigade Commander level meeting at Chakan-Da-Bagh on the LoC after which peace returned to the LoC though a couple of infiltration attempts were reported on the LoC.
Sources said the Army officials of India and Pakistan will be meeting at the LoC in Chakan-Da-Bagh and Tata Pani in the border district of Poonch to celebrate India’s Republic Day. Both sides would exchange sweets and gifts.
There has been complete peace on the LoC for past quite some time now in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch with no shelling or firing reported from any part.
The International Border was also completely peaceful in Jammu sector for past some months though infiltration attempts were reported from Bamiyal sector of Pathankot in Punjab in which militants had infiltrated twice in July 2015 and January this year and attacked Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Pathankot in which seven security personnel including a Lieutenant Colonel were killed. Troops had killed six attackers.
Sources said BSF and Rangers were also expected to celebrate the Republic Day together at Octroi Post in Suchetgarh sector of RS Pura tehsil and other meeting places in Jammu region.
Similarly, the officials of Indian Army and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China will also celebrate the Republic Day tomorrow at the Border Meeting Point (BMP) in Ladakh sector along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The Army officials of India and China have regularly been celebrating each other’s national days and festivals in Ladakh sector in view of peace between the two countries with no incident of incursions reporting from any side of Ladakh for past several months now.
The two sides had also opened one more BMP last year for increased inter-actions between the two sides and resolve disputes, if any, on the spot.
“It was in view of this fact that incursions from the PLA in Ladakh sector haven’t been reported for past quite some time,” sources said, adding that top officers of India and China will attend the celebrations.
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