India, Pak to follow tenets of 2003 truce pact: Army officer

Says Monday's Brigadier-level Flag Meeting expressed concern over civilians' safety

Asserting that India and Pakistan Armies have expressed concern over the safety and security of civilians who become target of the fire from both sides, a senior Army officer said on Tuesday that both the sides have agreed to follow the tenets of 2003 ceasefire agreement in letter and spirit.

“Various mechanisms will be set in place for maintaining peace and tranquillity [along the Line of Control in J&K]. Both sides agreed to a lot of things and agreed to further continue this process so that the LoC can remain tranquil and we [India and Pakistan] follow the tenets of [the] 2003 ceasefire [agreement],” General Officer Commanding (GoC) 16 corps Lt Gen R.R. Nimbhorkar told reporters on the sidelines of a function.

‘Both sides expressed concern’

The GoC was replying to a volley of questions about the outcome of Monday’s Brigade Commander’s Flag Meeting in Poonch. He maintained that both sides expressed concern over the safety and security of the civilians who ‘inadvertently’ became target of firing and shelling from both sides.

“Yes, there should be concern for the people of the country. There should be concern on both the sides. Yes there was concern on both the sides [expressed by officers of Pakistan and India at Tuesday’s Flag Meeting]. And this concern was the main reason that both sides went for the negotiations,” Lt. Gen. Nimbhorkar said.

The officer said that the main aim of the Flag Meeting was to sit together and resolve the issues (ceasefire violations), which are happening between the two sides.

Sorting out differences

“We didn’t go [to the Flag Meeting] with the aim of conveying any strong message. Basically, it is to sort out the differences for the conceptions or misconceptions which are happening. Therefore, we had a Flag Meeting which was in a cordial manner,” he said.

On the outcome of talks, he said that it was good and in the interest of both the sides.

“Our aim was basically to maintain peace and tranquillity and along with this major thing was that the civilians on both the sides should not suffer. We also have casualties and they too have casualties in this firing, so these people should not suffer,” he added.

Trust quotient

When asked whether Pakistan should be trusted on the commitments it made during the Flag Meeting, the GoC said, “I see no reason why they should not keep it as I said that the meeting was in a very cordial atmosphere. There was no hostility and there was very practical methodology. Issues were put up. I don’t think that this will not work.”

Replying to another question on whether India put forth its concern over the Pakistani side sponsoring terrorism in J&K and giving cover to the infiltrators, Lt Gen Nimbhorkar said, “See, there is varying perception on different issues. We try and avoid such issues.”

“We only deal with the issues, which are at hand. The main issue on Monday was about peace and tranquility on the LoC so that all the citizens on both sides of LoC inadvertently don’t suffer. So basically this was the major issue we discussed. We did not discuss any controversial issues on which two parties have different positions,” he said.

Infiltration issue

When asked to comment on the number of militants waiting on the other side of the Line of Control to infiltrate into the Indian side, he said that no specific number can be given.

“See, I cannot give from my side any number without any concrete proof. We cannot say that x or y number of militants but we are seeing that some militants tried to infiltrate in the 15 corps area of operation and they were killed. So it is evident that militants are there. However, the number of militants, the number of camps cannot be stated with precision,” he said.

IS foothold in PoK

On the presence of foothold of the Islamic State in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, he said: “I cannot say anything with surety on this. We don’t have any such information. When we get the information and it is proved that it has happened, then we will let you know. At this time neither can I approve or disapprove it,” he said.