Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 4: The Armies of India and Pakistan didn’t exchange sweets on the occasion of Diwali festival yesterday in view of recent escalated tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) while Border Security Force (BSF) and Rangers exchanged sweets and fruits at Octroi Post on the International Border (IB) in RS Pura sector as tensions have ceased at the IB after the flag meeting between the two sides.
Official sources told the Excelsior that there was no exchange of sweets for fourth consecutive major festival at the Chakan-Da-Bagh on the LoC between Indo-Pak troops in Poonch district in view of escalated tension on the border since the first week of August when five Indian Army soldiers were killed by Pakistan Army in Sarla battalion area at Chakan-Da-Bagh on the intervening night of August 4 and 5.
“The sweets were not exchanged on Eid on August 9, Independence Day of the two countries (August 14 and 15), Eid on October 16 and 17 and Diwali on November 3 at the LoC,” sources said, adding that though the incidents of shelling and firing have come down, the relations between the two sides remained strained on the LoC.
“The relations were still tense. Though situation is normal on the LoC in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, it was not to pre-August days that both sides exchange sweets,” sources said, adding that the gates at Chakan-Da-Bagh remained closed during Diwali festival yesterday.
It may be mentioned here that Army officials of India and Pakistan had been exchanging sweets and fruits on all major occasions at Chakan-Da-Bagh and other places on the LoC. The exchange of sweets was stopped in August after the killing of five Indian soldiers on the night of August 4 and 5, which was followed by heavy shelling and firing by Pakistan Army for more than two months, leading to casualties and damages on both sides.
Meanwhile, the BSF and Rangers exchanged sweets at Octroi Post on the IB in RS Pura sector and Chamblayal in Ramgarh sector on the occasion of Diwali festival yesterday. A casual contact of BSF and Rangers was also held at Chamblayal to cutting of grown up wild grass.
Wing Commander 12 Chenab of Rangers, Mohammad Ali represent Pakistan while 193 BSF CO Neeraj Dubey and 94 BSF CO GS Dhariwal represented India at the sweets exchange ceremony at Octroi Post that last half an hour.
“The sweets were exchanged in a cordial atmosphere,” sources said.
After more than fortnight long hostilities on the IB last month, the BSF and Rangers had held a flag meeting in which they had decided to maintain ceasefire. The exchange of sweets was also part of the issues agreed upon during flag meeting.
After the flag meeting, the ceasefire has been holding on the International Border, sources said, adding it was in view of peace on the IB that BSF shared sweets and gifts at Octroi Post.
On Eid festival on September 16 and 17, there was no exchange of sweets at the IB as well due to heavy shelling and firing from Pakistan side at BSF posts and civilian areas. During the firing, a BSF jawan was killed and 30 BSF personnel and civilians were injured.
Meanwhile, cross-LoC bus service on Poonch-Rawlakote route didn’t operate today in view of Diwali festival. There will be no cross-LoC trade this week on this route, sources said.
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