*DGMOs hold talks, India lodges protest
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 26: The BSF said today that this was for the first time after 1971 Indo-Pak war that hostilities between the two countries along the International Border have entered such a prolonged spell and blamed Pakistan for not cooperating with them in defusing tension as the Army took control of all relief camps set up for the migrants in Government accommodation in RS Pura, Arnia and Bishnah to provide all facilities to the border people.
The Director General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan also spoke on the hotline for about 10 minutes this afternoon in which India lodged strong protest with Pakistan for shelling in civilian areas on Jammu borders. Indian DGMO Lt Gen PR Kumar called upon his counterpart Major General Amir Riaz to immediately stop firing and shelling on the civilians.
“This is for the first time since 1971 war between the two neighbours that hostilities have prolonged to more than 45 days since first sniper shot was fired by Pakistan on the BSF post on July 16. The incidents of border firing, shelling, ceasefire violations, infiltration etc have taken place earlier also but this is for the first time when situation had deteriorated and prolonged to more than 45 days,” Pathak told reporters in RS Pura sector after visiting forward posts and holding a high level review of the situation prevailing on the borders with top BSF officers.
“Prolonging of hostilities notwithstanding, morale of the BSF jawans is very high and they are fully committed to protect people of Jammu and Kashmir. It is our duty to protect the civilians and we are doing that. We have been guarding the borders effectively and we are protecting the civilians,” Pathak said.
The firing by Pakistani forces in the last 45 days was possibly the “heaviest” since the 1971 Indo-Pak war, the BSF said today.
“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”, Pathak said.
Giving details of the pattern of the firing, Pathak said “as you are aware the firing took place for the last 45 days, to be more precise since the first incident of sniper took place on July 17 when a jawan died in the incident. It lasted for about 10 days or so. Then, there was a brief lull. This month, there was firing throughout the nights and some times during day time also”.
The firing from across the border on all posts is going on, he said adding firing is also targeting civilian areas.
“Last year, such an incident had taken place in September and it lasted for 20 to 25 days but this time it was the heaviest”, he added.
Meanwhile, in a major development, Army today took control of all relief camps for the border migrants set up in safer locations in RS Pura, Arnia and Bishnah in the Government buildings and started providing them food, clothes, medicines and all other necessary items.
Tiger Division of the Army has been given the responsibility of providing relief to the border migrants numbering around 10,000.
Reliable sources said the development comes after complete failure of Jammu’s civil and police administration to provide any kind of help to the border migrants except for opening Government buildings for them and failure of the State Government representatives to even visit the borders to listen to their problems despite massive destruction caused to their property in addition to the killing of three civilians, several cattle and injuries to many others.
The border migrants regretted that few Ministers paid courtesy calls for photo ops to the border areas but failed to order any arrangements for them in the camps. They regretted that even the civil and police officers were also visiting the border areas to mark their attendance in the newspapers and done nothing for the villagers, which reportedly prompted BJP president Amit Shah to take up the matter with Defence Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi today, who asked the Army to arrange entire relief material for the border migrants till they return to their houses after return of normalcy.
Sources said about 4000 people migrants were camping at Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS) Salehar in Arnia and 2000 in GHSS Rehal at Bishnah. Over 4000 migrants were accommodated in ITI RS Pura and Government high school Rangpur in RS Pura.
At all these places, the Army has set up its tents to provide food, clothing, medicare and all other help required by the migrants. The Army would continue to provide relief to the border migrants till the situation returned to normal and the people returned to their homes, sources said.
An Army official said they have started providing relief in 11 camps established by the administration at RS Pura, Dablehar, Devigarh, Salehar, Rehal, Ramgarh and Habtal. “We have included nine women officers and four lady Medical Officials, who were specifically addressing needs and medical care of large number of women and children,” he added.
He said at some camps, the Government teachers have been motivated to take classes for displaced children.
Sources said what to say of providing relief to the border migrants, the State Government had even refused to arrange transport for the migrants when they were shifting from the border villages to safer locations. The migrants said they had to hire the transport on their own to reach the camps. Some of the people, who had no money, walked their way to the camps, they added.
The border migrants have strongly appreciated the Army decision to provide them help including food in the camps. “We had been waiting for such help from the administration since our migration but it didn’t come. Finally, we had were relieved today after the Army came to our rescue,” they said.
Meanwhile, the BSF chief said “we have retaliated effectively to the firing from across the border”.
About the border build-up across in Pakistan, Pathak quoted Pakistani media reports about movement of its Army and tanks and said BSF has no means to verify the reports. He said the Pakistan army could be helping the Rangers in the firing.
He said the morale of the BSF jawans guarding the forward posts was “extremely extremely high” and they were following the approach of `Aakhri Goli, Aakhri Dum’. He said `duty-unto-death’ is the motto of the BSF jawans and they were following it.
“While Pakistan was directly targeting our civilian population, we continue to stick to the policy of no firing on civilians. We don’t fire first, We only retaliate. Moreover, we don’t target the civilians like Pakistan has been doing on our side,” he added.
Replying to a question whether flare up on the borders was linked to change of Government at the Centre, Pathak refused to buy the argument saying similar situation prevailed on the borders last year also though it didn’t prolong. “Therefore, we can’t say that the border tensions were linked to change of the Government”.
He declared that the BSF would continue to stick to the policy of “no first fire, no fire on civilians” despite Pakistan’s provocations.
About the terrorist launching pads, he said there are 25 to 30 such pads along the IB and the LoC across and militants are on look out for an opportunity to cross over to this side.
“We have intelligence inputs that militants are in various groups in launch pads and were trying to sneak in during ceasefire violations by Pakistan”, he added.
The infiltrating militants have moved close to Pakistani Rangers’ posts and villages, he said.
On return of peace on the border, he said “we want peace to prevail but they are resorting to firing on civilian areas and we cannot sit silent”.
To a question whether Pakistani troops are resorting to firing to divert attention of the people from their internal turmoil, the BSF DG linked it to infiltration attempts being made ahead of winter and this pattern has been there for years.
“The pattern of the target of areas of border is not the same. Last year, they had targeted Samba. This year, they have not touched it. It could be their strategy”, he said.
Pathak said the Pakistani side was not cooperating to defuse the situation on the International Border.
“We have made all possible efforts to stop it (ceasefire violations and firing). We tried four to five times to hold flag meetings. But they (the Pakistani side) did not respond to it… They never turned up,” Pathak said.
The BSF chief visited several forward areas and met the jawans in a bid to boost their morale. He asked the jawans to give strong and befitting reply to the ceasefire violations.
“We have lodged with them protest notes 16 to 17 times after firing incidents and ceasefire violations,” Pathak said.
Asked about the decision to hold flag meetings at field levels by both Army and BSF to defuse the situation, Pathak said, “I hope peace prevails. We have made so many efforts…”
“In fact, ever since this problem started as many as 16 attempts of contacting them over telephone through established channel of communication, have been made. They only responded to the initial calls and thereafter they have not responded and there have been no initiation from their end,” he added.
Pathak said: “we want peace. Civilians are being targeted. We cannot be a mute spectator to the firing at our civilian areas. We are mandated to guard the border and our mandate is clear. Any trans-border violation has to be dealt with appropriately and retaliated. That is what we are doing.”
Firing from across the border had continued for 45 days, he said.
The BSF chief said Pakistan has activated 25 to 30 launching pads along the border to push the militants into the Indian territory under the cover of shelling and firing.
Later, Pathak also visited the Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu and enquired condition of the BSF jawans and civilians admitted there after being hit by the Pakistani bullets and shells. GMC RMO Dr Sujay Mahajan briefed the DG BSF on treatment being given to the injured.
Meanwhile, India today lodged a protest with Pakistan over increased border ceasefire violations as top military officials of the two countries held telephonic talks and agreed to hold flag meetings to defuse the situation.
During the DGMO (Director General of Military Operations) level telephonic talks earlier today, India and Pakistan agreed to hold flag meetings at field levels by both Army and BSF to defuse the situation, Army officials said.
The DGMOs — Lt Gen PR Kumar from India and Major General Amir Riaz from Pakistan — discussed the border situation during their talk on hotline which takes place every Tuesday.
The DGMO talks were held around 1200 hours for about 10 minutes during which “all relevant issues” were raised, Army officials said here.
During the talks, the Indian side is understood to have raised the issue of frequent ceasefire violations and lodged protest over the issue, Army sources said here.
There have been 95 ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Line of Control and it has also breached the ceasefire pact 25 times on the International Border.
“The two sides have agreed to hold flag meetings at field levels by both Army and BSF to defuse the situation,” the Army officials said.
The DGMOs hold talks every week during which they discuss issues related to the Line of Control and other areas.
Meanwhile, guns fell silent along the Indo-Pak border in all affected sectors like Arnia, RS Pura, Ramgarh and Kanachak last night after fortnight-long continuous firing by Pakistani troops and shelling exchanges in which three civilians were killed and 17 others injured in 22 ceasefire violations.
“Borders are clam. There was no ceasefire violation along the International border (IB) in Jammu and Samba sectors”, sources said.
“After fortnight-long firing and shelling, there has been peace along the border during the night. Entire border belt had been disturbed due to it. It was a tough time dealing with the situation”, sources said.
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