Onus of ceasefire lies on Pak: Army chief

Army chief General General MM Naravane on Thursday said the onus on holding of ceasefire lies on Pakistan, adding that there have been very few incidents of violence and hardly any cases of stone pelting or IED attacks in Kashmir and the ceasefire with Pakistan is holding on the LOC.

“The ceasefire as of now is holding and the onus the ceasefire holds is squarely on Pakistan. We are willing to observe ceasefire as long as they do so,” said the Army chief, who is on a two-day visit to Kashmir.

On the cease fire between India and Pakistan which crossed 100 days, the Army chief said that they entered into the understanding with Pakistan in the end of February to observe ceasefire along the LOC.

Army chief, however said that other activities in which Pakistan is indulging continues like terrorists camps and terror infrastructure is there on the other side of the LOC and it continues.

Naravane said that there has been decades of mistrust between India and Pakistan and situation on that cant change overnight. “If the ceasefire continues in letter and spirit and they (Pakistan) stop to push terrorist inside and format trouble in India then all the small steps definitely go to build up trust in the two countries.”

He said though the ceasefire is on they can reduce alertness and preparedness.”we have the CI grid to prevent any movement from across the LOC, we also have the counter terrorism grid in the hinterland and all the deployments are dynamic and dependent on situation on threat perception.”

He also said that all the necessary steps for smooth conduct of Amarnath yatra have been taken by the army, but the decision about the yatra will be taken by the civil administration.