India, Pak militaries agree to observe strict ceasefire

The Indian and Pakistan armies on Thursday announced that they would strictly observe a ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and all other sectors from February 24 midnight in a major de-escalatory move.

The announcement comes after 2020 had seen a 18year record high of 5,133 truce violations at the LoC and the international border with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir. In contrast, there were 3,479 such violations in 2019 and 2,140 in 2018. The tensions at the LoC had risen after the terror attack on CRPF convoy in Pulwama in February 2019, and the revoking of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019. There have been nearly 600 violations in first two months of 2021.

India’s director-general of military operations (DGMO), Lt. Gen. Paramjit Singh Sangha, and his Pakistani counterpart, Maj. Gen. Nauman Zakaria, held discussions over the hotline, and the two sides reviewed the situation along the LoC and all other sectors in a “free, frank and cordial atmosphere”. A joint statement issued by both armies read: “In the interest of achieving mutually beneficial and sustainable peace along the borders, the two DGMOs agreed to address each other’s core issues and concerns which have the propensity to disturb peace and lead to violence.” It said both sides agreed to the strict observance of all agreements, understandings and cease firing along the Line of Control and all other sectors with effect from midnight February 24-25, 2021.