Tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan flared up again amid reports of Pakistani casualties following an Indian retaliation to a ceasefire violation. However, the Indian Army has clarified that the ceasefire agreement, established in 2021, remains intact despite sporadic incidents of cross-border firing.
“No exchange of fire of heavy-caliber weapons has taken place,” the Army stated, reinforcing that minor skirmishes are being addressed through established communication channels. Essentially, while the ceasefire has largely endured, the fragile peace is constantly tested by cross-border hostilities and infiltration attempts, keeping security forces on high alert.
The ceasefire, reinstated in February 2021 after back-channel negotiations involving intelligence and security officials from third countries, has largely held despite strained India-Pakistan relations. However, official diplomatic dialogue between the two nations has been non-existent since the Mumbai attacks in November 2008, which disrupted peace talks.
Past Conflicts and Ceasefire Agreement
The 2021 ceasefire agreement was a significant development, especially considering the heightened tensions after the Pulwama attack in 2019, where a paramilitary convoy was targeted in Jammu & Kashmir. This attack led India to conduct airstrikes deep into Pakistani territory, prompting a swift response from Pakistan. The escalation brought the two nuclear-armed nations close to another war.
In February 2021, both sides issued a joint statement, emphasizing their commitment to ceasefire agreements. The director generals of military operations spoke through their dedicated hotline and agreed on the “strict observance of all agreements, understandings and cease firing along the Line of Control and all other sectors in the interest of achieving mutually beneficial and sustainable peace.” The statement also mentioned addressing each other’s “core issues and concerns” to prevent further escalations.
Recent Attacks and Security Measures
Sources revealed that small-arms fire was exchanged at Tarkundi in Poonch’s Bhimber Gali sector on Wednesday, prompting Indian retaliation. “Wednesday afternoon around 1500 hrs Pakistan Army fired around 15 rounds on Indian troops at a post in Tarkundi area…,” said an army officer. He added that Indian forces retaliated in the Krishna Ghati sector, though the extent of damage was unclear.
The Army remains on high alert in the Kashmir Valley due to concerns over infiltration, particularly with lower-than-usual snowfall this winter. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha chaired a security review meeting in Srinagar on Wednesday, where he was briefed on the overall situation, particularly along the LoC.
Tensions have remained high, with multiple security incidents reported in recent days. On Tuesday, an IED explosion near the LoC in Jammu’s Akhnoor sector claimed the lives of a captain and another Indian Army personnel. Additionally, a soldier was injured on Monday while manning a post in the Kalal area of the Nowshera sector in Rajouri district.
Further, an Indian Army patrol came under fire from across the LoC in Rajouri’s Keri sector on Sunday during an attempted infiltration. The Army continues to monitor the border closely, ensuring preparedness against any potential threats.
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