Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 10: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today called upon Pakistan to uphold the sanctity of Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir as per its obligations under Shimla Agreement and Lahore Declaration.
Parrikar was replying to a question by KC Tyagi in the Rajya Sabha today regarding ceasefire violations by Pakistan along LoC and IB in Jammu and Kashmir and response given by Army and the Border Security Force (BSF).
“Diplomatically, India has repeatedly emphasized, including at the highest level, the need for Pakistan to uphold the sanctity of LoC and IB in Jammu and Kashmir as its obligations emanating from Shimla Agreement and Lahore Declaration,” the Defence Minister said.
Lahore Declaration was signed between then Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Nawaz Sharief on February 21, 1999 during Vajpayee’s historic bus trip to Lahore while Shimla Agreement was signed between the two nations on July 2, 1972 between then Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto after 1971 war.
Parrikar told the Rajya Sabha member that Army and BSF take appropriate action and give adequate retaliation to the ceasefire violations by Pakistan, as and when required, both along LoC and IB in Jammu and Kashmir.
In addition, Parrikar said, all violations of ceasefire are taken up with Pakistan authorities at the appropriate level through the established mechanism of hotlines, flag meetings and week talks on hotline between the Directorate Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two neighbouring countries.
“The BSF too holds talks at various levels with its counterpart i.e. the Pakistani Rangers,” he added.
Even though there had been no ceasefire violations along LoC and IB in Jammu and Kashmir at present, or during the past few days, the Defence Minister’s statement has made the mechanism clear on tackling any such violations in future, sources pointed out.
During first four months of the current year, there had been very few ceasefire violations along LoC and IB in Jammu and Kashmir. Even the ceasefire violations that took place were not significant, sources said.
India and Pakistan had held Brigade Commander level meeting at Chakan-Da-Bagh along the LoC in Poonch sector last month after shelling in Shahpur sector of Poonch district in which both the countries had agreed to maintain peace and tranquility on the LoC in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.
Meanwhile, India has conveyed to China which had blocked its attempt to designate Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Mohammed Masood Azhar as terrorist in a UN Security Council Committee that there can’t be double standards on terrorism.
In a written reply, Minister of State for Home Affairs Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary said China has placed a technical hold on India’s application to designate Azhar as a terrorist in the UN Security Council Committee established under UNSCR 1267/1989/2253.
He said the matter was taken up with China during the meeting of External Affairs Minister with Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi in Moscow on April 18, 2016 and during the visits of Raksha Mantri to China from April 17-20, and National Security Advisor to China from April 20-21.
“It has clearly conveyed that there cannot be different standards to judge terrorism.
“India has forcefully taken with International community that while the Pakistan-based JeM was listed in UN Security Council Committee establish (sic) under UNSCR 1267/1989/2253 as far back as 2001 for its well known terror activities and links to the Al-Qaeda, the designation of the group’s main leader, financer and motivator has been put on technical hold,” he said.
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