Following the sudden cancellation of Foreign Secretary level talks, Pakistani forces along the Line of Control (LoC) have indulged in unprovoked firing on Indian security forces. Pakistani troops opened fire on 22 border outposts and 13 villages around midnight of August 23. The firing also extended to civilian areas and killing two and injuring six persons along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Jammu sector. As usual the Pakistani security forces’ rejoinder was that it was the Indian forces that started the clash and that two people were killed on their side as well. Though such firing is not uncommon, the past week has seen an escalation in numbers.
It is bad diplomacy for Pakistan to entertain anti-India separatist groups at its High Commissioner’s office in Delhi just before the scheduled talks between the two countries. Although such ‘undiplomatic’ engagements were considered kosher in the past, this is a new Government in Delhi we are talking about. It’s a no-nonsense Government led by a man with unprecedented mandate and one who has a mind of his own. Meanwhile Pakistan’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, has said the Directors-General of Military Operations of both countries should meet immediately and discuss ways to stop the current spate of firing along the working boundary. Pakistan is also sending a proposal to India for the meeting.
Mr Aziz’s statement came on Saturday even as India and Pakistan accused each other of violating the ceasefire, claiming two deaths each in the latest round of intensified firing across the Line of Control. India’s Defence Minister, Arun Jaitley has cautioned Pakistan that unprovoked firing from the other side would be followed by an equal response from India’s side and that the Army and the BSF guarding the LoC and the International Border, are fully vigilant and ready to respond to each violation. The recent killing of a BSF jawan by Pakistan security forces is also a sore point with India. As of today the civilian government of Pakistan is at the point of implosion. There is no knowing about the future of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif under these circumstances. India has to wait and watch how the situation develops and respond accordingly.
