New Delhi:
Ceasefire violations by Pakistan along LoC in Jammu and Kashmir are nothing new and the firing that takes place across the International Border often turns fatal, claiming lives of our jawans as well as the innocent civilians. While there is no stopping to the continuous cross-border firing since October 1, don’t you think “enough is enough”?
Enough attempts of peaceful talks made, but all in vain! Why doesn't the Indian government take any strict action against Pakistan? Isn’t it the high time for the government to walk the talk by switching into action mode?
The opposition too has been slamming the Narendra Modi government for its failure to take any concrete action against the ceasefire violations. The question remains is – will the newly formed government do anything to put Pakistan’s guns down, forever?
All ‘talks’ but no ‘action’?
India has taken a tough stance on ceasefire violations by Pakistan by asking it to end the present “adventurism” but made it clear that it has “no fear of talks”. But will tough words work?
After firing from across the border declined following strong retaliatory response by India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Pakistan has been taught a “befitting lesson” with the Army “shutting their mouth”, adding, “They will not dare to repeat it again.” But unfortunately, they are repeating it again!
The Prime Minister also said those living close to the border with Pakistan who had to leave their homes following nine days of heavy mortar shelling and firing will be adequately compensated by the Centre. But will compensating the victims heal their wounds?
Modi govt criticised
Terming Modi as a “weak” Prime Minister Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said: “Whenever ceasefire violations were reported during the UPA rule, Modi tried to project us as villain and tried to create an impression that since Congress was weak, Pakistan attacks us.”
“Modi would say that UPA government is not bothered about national security and thinks only about vote bank politics. He took oath as prime minister in front of the Pakistan PM and then there have been exchanges of shawl, sarees and mangoes. Even Pakistan does not take Modi seriously because they know he only talks but does nothing.”
“There is a correlation between these ceasefire violations and the Modi-led NDA coming to power,” he said.
Shiv Sena too has charged Modi with “inaction” on the issue of the ceasefire violations by Pakistan.Slamming the PM over the ceasefire violations, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said that onslaught started a day after the Prime Minister assured the country that things were back to normalcy.
Lashing out at Modi for his remarks that issues like ceasefire violations should not be a matter of debate for political gains, Congress said Modi himself had centered his Lok Sabha campaign over border tensions with Pakistan and China.
Senior JD(U) leader and former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar too hit out at Modi over handling of the issue of ceasefire violations by Pakistan, saying that there was a world of difference between his “rhetoric” and “action” on dealing with the border situation.
“His (Modi’s) action (to deal with ceasefire violation by Pakistan) belies his rhetorics on the issue when he was not in power at the Centre,” Kumar said.
Protests against ceasefire violation
The national capital saw protests over the continuing ceasefire violations by Pakistan. Demonstrations were held outside the Pakistan High Commission and the residence of its High Commissioner.
Scores of Indian Youth Congress (IYC) activists held a stir outside Pakistan High Commission during which they slammed the ceasefire violations along the international border by troops of the neighbouring country.
The protesters condemned the cross-border firing which has led to military and civilian casualties in the frontier areas of Jammu and Kashmir and sparked a mass exodus in the villages there.
What the govt has to say?
Union Home minister Rajnath Singh has attacked the Congress and other parties for “playing politics” on the issue of ceasefire violations, saying it has lowered the morale of the forces and asked people to shun them.
Senior BJP leader and Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu urged Congress not to politicise the issue as the matter was related to defence of the country.
“My suggestion to Congress is not to politicise this issue. Do not do politics over this issue. Congressman must look into their track record before talking about this issue. It is not good to indulge in politics over the defence of the country during elections,” he said.
“The ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan was done on November 25, 2003. After that, there was firing in 2007. Firing took place 77 times in 2008. In 2009, firing took place 28 times, followed by 44 times in 2010 in which three soldiers were killed.”
“About 62 firings took place in 2011. There were 104 ceasefire violations in the following year of 2012, wherein six soldiers were killed. And, 347 firing incidents took place in 2013, in which 12 jawans lost their lives,” he said.
Parrying a question on a demand by Congress for convening an all-party meeting over the ceasefire violations, he said that the government is taking all necessary steps to bring back normalcy at the Line of Control.
“We have told Pakistan very clearly that terror and talks cannot go together. That has been made clear to Pakistan. Let us see,” Naidu said.
Union Minister of State for PMO, Jitendra Singh said the government will “appropriately respond” to ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops as and when the situation demands.
Stern message to Pakistan by Indian leaders
DK Pathak, director general of BSF said, "Our force is a professional force and we will respond very professionally. Whatever retaliatory action BSF has to take, will be undertaken".
Giving tough message to Pakistan, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that they must know that times have changed and now Modi is at helm of affair.
Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said, "Let everybody be assured that our armed forces and para-military forces are fully ready and they are responding to each of these provocations from Pakistan".
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, "They have nothing else to speak, but only Kashmir. The cross-border shelling is an indication of their frustration".
Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "The Army has been instructed to reply to the ceasefire violations and it is acting on the issue”.
As it happened
Oct 23: In yet another ceasefire violation, Pakistan again resorted to firing on Border Out Posts (BoPs) along the International Border (IB) in the Samba and Jammu districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Oct 22: After a brief lull of three days, Pakistan again resorted to firing from across the International Border (IB) in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir in yet another act of ceasefire violation.
Oct 17: Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire twice by firing on forward posts along the LoC and International Border in Poonch and Jammu districts, drawing retaliation from the Army.
Oct 16: Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire twice by firing with small arms and automatic weapons on Indian posts along the LoC in Poonch district, drawing retaliation from the Army.
Oct 13: Pakistani troops violated ceasefire twice and resorted to heavy firing and mortar shelling targeting 10 Indian forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district injuring one woman.
Oct 12: Pakistani troops heavily shelled 15 Border Out Posts and hamlets along the International Border overnight, leaving three persons injured, one of them seriously in Jammu district.
Oct 11: Pakistan violated ceasefire twice along International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch and Jammu district, drawing strong retaliation from India.
Oct 10: After nine days of heavy firing and mortar shelling from across the border, firing de-escalated along the 192-km long International Border in Jammu frontier overnight.
Pakistan opened fire on just four border out posts in Kathua district as compared to firing on 60 border out posts along the International Border yesterday. There was no firing along the IB in Jammu and Samba districts.
Oct 9: Pakistan heavily shelled civilian areas in Shahpur, Kirni, Banwat, Mandaar, Kalsaam, Doda along LoC in Poonch. Pakistani troops of 641 Mujahid Regiment also shelled six Posts including Doda, Jangalvon, Jungal two, Kranti, Sher and Shakti in the area.
Five houses suffered minor damages and one house caught fire in the area but there was no casualty.
Oct 8: In fresh ceasefire violations, Pakistani forces resorted to shelling and firing along the international border in Jammu and Kashmir.
There were three fresh violation of ceasefire as Pakistani forces resorted to mortar shelling and firing in the sub sectors of Kanachak and Pargwal in Jammu district and Hiranagar in Kathua district along the international border (IB).
Oct 7: Heavy firing exchange erupted this evening between Pakistani and Indian troops along the International Border and Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir in which a JCO and two other armymen were injured.(With PTI inputs)
