K D Maini
Peace process means different things for different people. For people living alongside the LoC, ceasefire have revived their lives, brought peace and given security after about 10 years of war like situation prevailing in the border areas. The people in this belt were suffering from continuous shelling and firing across the LoC. The civilians living in exposed and vulnerable areas were the main victims of the shelling, because the shelling and firing was not hitting only army installations but bombs dropped in the villages, habitations and populated areas killed innocent people and cattle, destroyed crops and houses, stopped movement of natives, compelled them to take refuge in bunkers and houses, created harassment and tension and the habitants were not in a position to cultivate their lands, start commercial activities, attend institutions and neither they could organize social functions. The tension on the border had worsened after August 5, 2019, when special status of J&K was revoked, the Pakistan Army started indiscriminate and without provocation firing throughout the border especially in Tangdhar, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, Rajouri, Nowshera, Sunderbani on the, R S Pura and Kathua District on international border. Pakistan also inducted terrorist during shelling for disturbing peaceful atmosphere inside Jammu and Kashmir. No doubt that befitting reply was given by the Indian forces but Pakistan continued this scenario to internationalize the situation.
After a year of some worst fighting on India’s frontier with Pakistan and China both the neighbours suddenly started talking about peace to defuse the situation by realizing that tension on the border shall not suit them on the border as well as on international forum. Therefore recently Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed plan to disengage troops from Ladakh with his counterpart S. Jai Shanker. Phone calls between the two foreign ministers which lasted for more than one hour came shortly after India and Pakistan released a joint statement announcing ceasefire on LoC and other sectors. These measures have some impact of new policy of engagement of president of America Joe Biden, because now there was no alternative for Pakistan to keep the pot boiling on the LoC.
According to ceasefire agreement on the LoC and other areas in J&K, the Armies of India and Pakistan have agreed ceasefire along the LoC and other sectors w.e.f. midnight of February 24 & 25 2021. The DGMO’s held discussions and reviewed situation alongside the LoC and other sectors in free and frank atmosphere and declared-“in the interest of mutually beneficial and sustainable peace alongside the borders the DGMO’s of India and Pakistan agreed to address each other core issues and concerned which have propensity to disturb peace and lead to violence”.
This agreement have been reached in a very surprising manner as the talks were kept secret and after finalizing all the measures and steps, the announcement was made as a normal news, but it was the big news which has national and international dimensions. This agreement has broken the ice and talks between the two countries hopefully, shall resume in the near future. No doubt that it is a big step but a first step towards peace. It appears that more such steps are expected after ascertaining the effective enforcement of ceasefire on the LoC and other sectors. This development is likely to give relief to civilians residing in border areas on both sides.
The above said DGMOs agreement has political backing also. The Indian National Security Advisor Ajeet Doval and Moeed Yusuf Pakistan’s Special Assistant to National Security division were in touch with these talks which led to ceasefire and set the modalities for sustainable peace on the LoC and other sectors. Yusuf Confirmed to reporters in Islamabad that two countries made efforts behind the scene in a very calm atmosphere away from press and media which resulted ceasefire agreement.
The ceasefire on the border was firstly effected on Nov 23, 2003 on Eid-ul-Fitr by Pak PM and the then Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee responded positively and agreed with proposal of ceasefire which was enforced on November 26, 2003. This ceasefire successfully continued upto 2011 and not even a single violation was reported during this period. By encouraging from this ceasefire, during 2005-06, two routes on the LoC namely 46 kms Poonch-Rawlakote Road and 55 Kms Slamabad Uri- Muzaffarabad road were opened to divided families living on both the sides of LoC. During 2008 cross LoC trade was also started to provide trade avenues to the people residing near the LoC. After 2011 Pakistan again started violating the ceasefire agreement. During last 10 years the ceasefire violation has become a routine matter due to which the trade and travel across the LoC was also stopped and even the trade center Poonch was bombarded by Pakistan. After August 5, a war like situation was witnessed by the habitants of border areas.
The natives of border belt have welcomed the ceasefire and feel secure and protected from indiscriminate firing and shelling in their localities across the LoC. Mohd Jamil Sarpanch of worst hit upper Kasba Village told that they are free from regular harassment and depression due to threat to life. Parvinder Singh Sarpanch of Village Degwar was of the opinion that we should wait and watch the response of Pakistan’s behaviour because in the past also ceasefire was declared a number of times but later on violated by Pakistan.
Kirni Mandhar is another worst hit village located exactly on the LoC. A native of this village Rashid Ahmed while appreciating the decision told that they were not in a position to come out from the bunkers and houses and have now started normal life after 10 years. He further added that there is a need of strict vigil on on the LoC because there is apprehension of crossing the border by the militants who are sitting on the launching pads on the other sides of this area.
Karmara is a last inhabited village on Poonch-Rawlakote road which is touching the LoC. Mohd Sharif Sarpanch of this village told that they rejoiced the moment by drum beatings after a long time. The families residing in this area have also started social functions and inviting friends and relatives to their houses. The habitants have again got an opportunity of secured life with honour and dignity. By thanking both the countries he said that the peace may be prolonged on the LoC which is in the interest of border people and need for friendly relation between the two countries.
It is a fact that ceasefire will provide huge relief to people living in border areas alongside the LoC on both the sides and open the gates for further steps towards normalcy. However, it is also important for the defense forces to be on vigil, alert and in preparedness on the border and inside Jammu and Kashmir to face the challenges on the border and to combat terrorism inside the area.
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