DGMOs talk, promise calm; Pak army orders restraint on LoC

After a week of almost daily exchange of fire on the Line of Control (LoC) in the Mendhar sector, India and Pakistan Wednesday agreed to make efforts to de-escalate the matter by strictly adhering to the ceasefire agreement.

The director generals of military operations (DGMOs) of the two sides talked on the phone Wednesday morning, with Pakistani DGMO Major General Ashfaq Nadeem saying orders had been passed down the ranks to "observe the ceasefire strictly and exercise restraint".

Indicating that the tension that had built up after the brutal killing of two Indian soldiers by Pakistani Army regulars last week is likely to cool down, the two Armies also agreed that the situation should not be escalated.

"The Pakistani side confirmed that orders have been passed to troops to observe the ceasefire strictly. An understanding was reached not to allow the situation to escalate," an Indian Army spokesperson said, adding that the two officials spoke for close to 10 minutes.

The assurance came even as firing along the LoC continued in the affected sector of Mendhar, with a Pakistani Army soldier being killed in a crossborder exchange on Tuesday. Maj Gen Nadeem raised the killing during the talks with Indian DGMO Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia, but is learnt to have been pointed out that the Indian side had declared that it would retaliate to any provocation.

"They complained about their casualty and we told them that while we had been exercising restraint in the past, we have been forced to give a response due to continuing violations of the ceasefire from Pakistan," an Army officer said.

While both sides put their point of view across during the short conversation, officials said the general understanding after the talks was not to allow the situation to escalate. "Things are cooling down a bit but we have to remain watchful," the officer said.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Problem is hypersensitive India and political lobbies, not Censor Board, says Anurag Kashyap

Railways returns to Joshi, Sibal gets crucial law ministry

They hold a mirror to our times, Anurag and Dibakar are guests at Adda on Friday night

Siddaramaiah seen ahead in Karnataka CM race