India and Pakistan's military agree to maintain truce on LoC

India and Pakistan military Tuesday agreed to maintain truce on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir and keep the communication alive through established reconciliation mechanism, the US-funded Radio Sawa reported.

Defense spokesman based in Jammu Lt Colonel Manish Mehta said a Battalion Commander level flag meeting was held between Indian and Pakistan army at Chakan da Bagh in Poonch sector of Jammu province this morning to discuss important issues, especially ceasefire violations along LoC.

“The meeting, which began at 11 am, was held to take forward the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) initiated during the Brigade Commander Level Flag meeting held in September,” he said adding Colonel level officers lead the respective delegations.

Asked what was discussed in the meeting, Lt Col Mehta said the military representatives of the two nations deliberated on ceasefire violations, return of inadvertent civilian crossers across LoC, air space violations and construction activity close to the LoC.

He said the deliberations between the two sides continued for over one and a half hour.

“During the meeting, both sides acknowledged each other’s efforts in maintaining peace and tranquility on the LoC in the recent past,” Lt Col Mehta said.

Asked what was decided in the meeting, he said military officials of both the countries agreed to the importance of exercising maximum restraint on the LoC. “They also agreed to keep the communication alive through established reconciliation mechanism”.

In November 2003, India and Pakistan government agreed to end hostilities along the International Border and LoC in J&K and maintain truce along the frontiers.

Source: MENA