The Tribune – India strongly protests LoC firings at flag meet with Pak; Brigade Commander-level parleys finally held in Poonch

Ravi Krishnan Khajuria & Darshan Bharti, Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 23. The much-awaited meeting between officials of the Indian and Pakistani Army was held today at Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch district of J-K, with New Delhi, in strong words, conveying to Islamabad its concerns over recent truce violations in the KG Sector.

“We told them that border skirmishes were in nobody’s interest and such misadventures jeopardise peace initiatives between the two countries,” said an Army source.

“The Brigade Commander -level flag meeting commenced around 1100 hours at Chakan-da-Bagh and lasted till 1200 hours,” Jammu based Defence PRO, Col RK Palta said.

It has been reliably learnt that the meeting took place between 10 Brigade Commander, TS Sandhu and his Pakistani counterpart, 6 Sector Commander, Amir Sohail Ashraf. “We had been demanding a flag meeting with them, especially after June 13 when the Pakistani troops targeted out forward posts. It eventually happened today, providing us an opportunity to lodge our protest with them,” said a senior Army officer.

“With this meeting, we can now say that things will start moving in a positive direction,” he added.

The officer also hoped that once the differences were ironed out between the two armies, trans-LoC trade and travel would soon get back on rails.

The Pakistani troops had resorted to unprovoked firing on forward Indian posts in the KG Sector in Poonch on June 13. The heavy shelling continued till June 17. The firing forced the Army to deploy an artillery battalion in the KG Sector for the first time in the past one decade.

Army sources said the recent firing by the Pakistani troops was to facilitate infiltration of militants into J-K.

Cross-LoC trade and travel custodian, Abdul Hamid, said he was hopeful of resumption of trade and travel between the two sides after the flag meeting. “We hope that trade and travel via Chakan-da-Bagh will resume by July 2 and July 3,” he added.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120624/main1.htm

The Tribune – Artillery Batallion moved to LoC as Pakistan shells Poonch posts again; Fourth truce violation in 5 days; soldier wounded

Ravi Krishnan Khajuria & Darshan Bharti, Tribune News Service

Jammu/Poonch, June 17. Pakistani troops today violated ceasefire for the fourth time in the last five days and pounded Indian posts along the Line of Control (LoC) with mortar shells in Poonch district, promoting the Army to move an artillery battalion to forward posts in Krishna Ghati (KG) sector.

Reliable sources told The Tribune that an artillery battalion has been moved from Mendhar to effectively check possible infiltration attempts by militants from across the border besides dealing with frequent “misadventures of a hostile neighbour.”

The fresh violation, 16th this year, resulted in injuries to Sepoy Kundan Singh of 3 Grenadiers.

“Last night, around 10.15 pm, Pakistani troops opened heavy fire on our posts in KG sector using mortars and automatic weapons. Initially, the intensity was low but from 11.15 onwards, they started firing mortars, forcing us to give them an effective response,” said an Army spokesperson. The exchange of fire continued till 12.30 am.

At least 12 Indian posts were targeted by 653 Mujahid Regiment of the Pakistan Rangers, who used rocket launchers, heavy machine gun and UBGL grenades, said official sources. “Pakistan Rangers opened fire from Daku, Battal, Roza and Pimple posts opposite KG sector,” they added. The Pakistani troops have so far violated the truce four times since June 13 resulting in killing of two soldiers Lance Naik Harvinder Singh and BSF jawan P K Mishra. Three soldiers have been injured.

“In the last five days, Pakistani troops have been continuously targeted our forward posts. Therefore, the Army, which exercised maximum restraint to de-escalate the situation, has now moved an artillery battalion from Mendhar to forward posts in KG sector,” revealed sources.

Yesterday, the Pak Rangers had refused to attend a crucial flag meeting at Chakan-da-Bagh trade point.

According to sources, the Pakistan Army and the ISI have moved militants very close to the LoC with an aim to help them cross over to the Indian side. However, they have not succeeded and were targeting forward Indian posts in sheer frustration.

Heavy firing from across the border created panic among the residents of Sagra, Balnoi, Gani and Dabraj villages close to the LoC in KG sector. These villages have a population of over 10,000.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120618/main3.htm

The Tribune – Pakistan refuses to attend flag meet; LoC trade halted

Ravi Krishnan Khajuria, Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 16. In a setback to efforts for maintaining peace along the Line of Control, the Pakistani Army today refused to attend a crucial flag meeting with its Indian counterpart at Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch district. The trans-LoC trade remains suspended for the past two days – first time since it was started four years ago.

Jammu-based traders say they have already suffered a loss of about Rs 1 crore.

Three days ago, Pakistani soldiers targeted forward Indian posts in the KG Sector. Lance Naik Harvinder Singh was killed and three other Indian soldiers were injured. In the same area, the Pakistani troops had shot dead a BSF jawan, PK Mishra, of the 94 Battalion.

“A flag meeting was scheduled between Army officers of the two sides at 11 am today at Chakan-da-Bagh trade point. We had to take up the ceasefire violations and cross-LoC firing by the other side in Poonch’s KG Sector,” said an Army source.

“Pakistani Army officers sent us a message expressing their inability to attend the meeting. They said they would inform us in due course of time,” said the source. The Pakistani side neither assigned any reason for the abrupt cancellation nor did they give any fresh dates, said the source.

The recalcitrant attitude of the Pakistani authorities has abruptly halted the cross-LoC trade via Chakan-da-Bagh. Cross-LoC Traders’ Poonch Association chief Pawan Anand said on June 14-15, the Jammu-based traders had dispatched 22 trucks carrying bananas, chilli and tamarind, but the Pakistani authorities did not open the gates. “The trucks returned, causing a loss of Rs 1 crore,” he said.

“Ceasefire violations are common, but these had no impact on trade,” said Anand. This is the first time the trade route has been shut down.

What happened

- The flag meeting was scheduled between Army officers of both sides at Chakan-da-Bagh trade point to take up ceasefire violations and cross-LoC firing in Poonch’s KG Sector

- Trans-LoC trade suspended for the past two days, the first time since it was started four years ago, after ceasefire violations

- Jammu-based traders say they have already suffered a loss of about Rs 1 crore

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120617/main2.htm

The Tribune – Inclusive government Omar style, Jammu & Kashmir Cabinet meets near Line-of-Control

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 30. In an effort to reach out to people in far-flung areas of the state, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today visited Teetwal in Kupwara district on the Line of Control (LoC).

The Chief Minister drove to Teetwal after chairing a Cabinet meeting at Tangdar. As Teetwal village is located 16 km from Tangdar, Omar inspected works and took stock of the road stretch connecting the two areas.

Incidentally, Teetwal was badly affected by the earthquake that had shaken the remote area in October 2005. The Kishenganga river also flows through Teetwal and parts of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

“Inclusive development with focused attention on remote areas has been underlined as an important concern in the development policy of the government. The transfer of power and authority from the secretariat to the village level and involvement of people in decision-making is the government’s endeavour,” Omar said while interacting with locals of Teetwal village.

After receiving feedback on the state of the health, road communication, water supply and education sectors of the area, Omar promised to take up the issue of upgrade and improvement of the road between Tangdar and Teetwal at the “highest level” in the Central Government. The road is at present under the supervision and execution of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

He said issues related to improvement in the telecommunication and telephone services would also be taken up with the Centre. Omar passed directions for the creation of a facility centre at the Teetwal crossing point. He also directed for resolving land issues related to the establishment of Degree College, Tangdar.

The District Development Commissioner was directed to identify land for a sports field at the nearby Karnah area. In Teetwal and Tangdar, Omar met various deputations of Gujjars, Auqaf Committee, panchayat members, local Congress committee, transporters, traders, labourers and Bar Association members. Minister for Finance Abdul Rahim Rather accompanied the Chief Minister during his visit to Teetwal.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120531/main3.htm