Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 21: India and Pakistan today agreed to exercise restraint and work for defusing the situation on Line of Control (LoC) which has been witnessing repeated ceasefire violations as senior Army officers of the two countries held a flag meeting at Chakan-Da-Bagh in Poonch sector today after repeated ceasefire violations by the Pakistan army which resulted into several civilian casualties apart from a BSF official.
The Brigade Commander level Flag Meeting was held at Chakan-Da-Bagh LoC crossing point in Poonch sector at 11.30 am and it lasted over one and half hours.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the Indian side took serious exception to unabated ceasefire violations by Pakistan army along the LoC in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in which six civilians were killed at Balakote while a BSF official was killed at Manjakote. Pakistan side has also suffered heavy losses in retaliatory firing by the troops.
The Indian side also took serious note of infiltration attempts by the militants under the cover of shelling and firing by Pakistan army, sources said, adding the Army officials gave evidence to their Pakistani counterparts about ceasefire violations and infiltration attempts by the militants.
The representatives of the two nations addressed a host of issues regarding ongoing ceasefire violations, targeting of civilians and sniping action on the LoC, sources said.
“Both sides have understood the importance of exercising restraint and have decided to take steps to defuse the situation,” they said.
The meeting lasted for about an hour and a half and the Indian side was represented by Brigadier H S Sareen, Brigade Commander Bhimber Gali (BG) Brigade and other senior officers while the Pakistani side was led by Brigadier Osman and other officers.
This is the first Flag Meeting held at the level of Brigadiers after nearly 20 days of heavy firing and shelling of 120 mm, 82, 61 mm mortar bombs, RPGs and automatic weapons by Pakistani troops in Poonch district along the LoC.
Pakistani troops have violated the ceasefire 25 times in September this year, shelling Indian civilian and military positions using 120 mm, 82 mm mortars, Rocket Projectile Grenades (RPGs) and automatic weapons, according to Indian officials.
On Sunday last, BSF officer ASI Sohan Lal was killed in shelling when Pakistan targeted their post in Manjakote sector along LoC in Rajouri district.
The last Brigade Commander level meeting was held on September 4 last year after the LoC saw 45-days of heaviest firing by Pakistani troops since 1971.
Sources expressed confidence that the Brigade Commander level flag meeting will help ease tensions along the LoC in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri just like the Director General level talks between BSF and Rangers had considerably reduced tensions along the International Border (IB) in Jammu sector and led to restoration of peace and tranquility in the region.
Sources said both sides stressed for maintenance of peace along the LoC so that the civilians living in the forward areas don’t suffer. The civilians were worst hit by the shelling as they had lost their houses, cattle and other belongings. Six civilians were killed in Balakote on August 15 and 16 in Pakistani shelling. Pakistan has also suffered heavy losses in retaliatory firing by the Indian troops.
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