September 11th saw the Pakistan Army violate ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in many locations in Jammu and Kashmir – using small arms for firing, and mortars for shelling. According to the defence spokesman Lt. Col. Devender Anand (in Jammu), ‘the unprovoked ceasefire violations were initiated by Pakistan’ (Hindustan Times). The following sectors in the Poonch District of J&K came under this violation:
- Mankote Sector at (approx..) 5:30 hours
- Degwar Sector at (approx.) 11:45 hours
- Mendhar Sector at (approx.) 12:15 hours
The Pakistani Army, however, alleged that the ceasefire was initiated unprovoked by the Indian Army in the Bedori Sector along the LoC, targeting the civilians and their residence. The Inter-Services Public Relations of Pakistan (ISPR) has reported “heavy losses on the enemy in terms of men and material.”
Though both sides of the border have claimed the other responsible in initiating ceasefire violation, there has been a confirmed report on the death of one Pakistani soldier, Havaldar Liaqat, and one Indian soldier, Lance Naik Karnail Singh (general commanding officer of the White Knight Corps). Amidst the death and the futile sacrifice made by these two brave-hearts, several more have been injured on both the sides. The death of the Pakistani soldier was on field when the Indian troops were compelled to retaliate, while Commanding Officer Lance Naik succumbed to his injuries on the 30th of September.
It was in the Krishna Ghati sector that Commanding Officer Lance Naik was injured, along with another soldier.
As per the Right to Information Act (RTI) filed by activist Raman Sharma, it has been reported that the Pakistani troops have violated ceasefire along the LoC approximately 13 times a day for the first 7 months of 2020- resulting in 23 deaths, of which 8 were security personnel, and injuries to over 100. Latest figures procured in Parliament showed that India recorded 3,186 ceasefire violations along the LoC from January 1st to September 7th, making Pakistan’s truce violations highest, in these months of 2020, in the last 17 years. This collusive military threat has been persistent along the 778 km-long LoC. There was a major spike in truce violations by Pakistan since last year, following the nullification of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir as well as the Balakot air-strikes. There has been an average of 350-400 ceasefire violations per month after India’s confrontation with China in June this year where 20 Indian soldiers were reported dead.
According a senior Army officer, “Pakistan is obviously supporting its ‘iron brother’ China. It also wants to push as many terrorists and arms as possible into J&K before the mountain passes get blocked with snow. Our troops respond effectively to each and every CFV by Pakistan with targeted strikes.” (The Economic Times)
Despite the tension along both the LoC (788 km) and LAC (Line of Actual Control- 3488 km), the Indian military has been very sufficient in managing her troops and establishing permanent stations along the disputed demarcations. After the encounter with China earlier this year, India has stationed about 50,000 soldiers along the LAC simultaneously maintaining active troops along the LoC.
Written by- Sukanya Chaudhury
SOURCES OF REFERENCE:
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/ceasefire-violation
