Indo-Pak flag meeting discusses ceasefire violations

Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Nov 22: Army today took up the issue of ceasefire violations in Hajipeer sector of Uri in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district with Pakistani counterparts during flag meeting held at Aman Setu.
Highly placed sources said that the flag meeting took place at Aman Setu this afternoon during which the Battalion commander of the Churanda battalion of Army based in village Churanda expressed Army’s displeasure over the ceasefire violations in Churanda village that started in September and continued till last week.
Army officer informed his Pakistani counterpart that three civilians of the village were killed by mortar shells fired by the Pakistani troops on the village on October 16. He informed him that the continuous firing has led to fear psychosis among the civilian population and restricted their movement besides affecting their routine life.
The flag meeting was held today after Pakistan agreed for it following India asking for it twice during last month. Army asked for flag meeting with its counterparts on October 3 and 17 following heaving firing in Churanda village.
Pakistani counterpart reportedly raised the issue of the construction of a new bunker near the LoC in Charunda village as violation of the ceasefire agreement of 2003. However, Army officer explained to his Pakistani counterpart that the Army is augmenting the forward posts for winter and to keep a closer look at the LoC that runs through the village.
Meanwhile, the Army and police conducted search operations in village of Chandigam and Dooruswain villages in Lolab in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district to trace out the two militants who were injured on Sunday night during an encounter with the security forces in Devar forests. Earlier yesterday Army and police conducted house to house searches in Devar, Andargam, Dilbagh, Kokerpati and Dardpora villages of Lolab.
SP Kupwara, Irshad Ahmad, said police have detained three suspected persons who are being questioned about the whereabouts of the injured militants who had been taken to Devar village for treatment after they were injured on Sunday night.
The SP said that security forces have launched an operation in Kursan Varnov ridge to track the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants who were trapped by security forces last week.
The SOG Kupwara, and Army’s 28, 18, 47, 29 and 52 Rashtriya Rifles are conducting the operation against the JeM militants including JeM chief Qari Yasir who are trapped in Army cordon inside the forests since Friday. The security forces established first contact with the militants on Sunday night during which two militants were injured.