The punching bag called LoC.

India and Pakistan have resolved to honour the 2003 Line of Control (LoC) ceasefire agreement. It has brought to an end almost six years of uninterrupted skirmishes along the border. In between was a major strike. Both the countries entered into each other's airspace to avenge attacks on their respective soils. India was the first to take the leap. It targeted 'terrorists' hiding in Balakot. Pakistan could not take this lying down and threw payloads on Indian territory as well. In the meantime, the captured Indian pilot was released to endorse Pakistan's intention to have peace. Any tension between India and Pakistan has been bound to translate into a heated LoC, resulting in the destruction of villages and killing innocent people who might even not know the significance of the line. In a pattern, each country had always accused the other of resorting to unprovoked firing.

The timings of reviving peace on the LoC were also interesting. It marked exactly two years since India's incursion into Balakot.

According to the media vibes, both countries' military personnel struck a deal through a hotline contact. The statement issued following the truce said: 'In the interest of achieving mutually beneficial and sustainable peace along the borders, the two DGMO agreed to address each other's core issues and concerns which have [the] propensity to disturb the peace and lead to violence.'

Experts are reluctant to accept it to be a straightforward affair. The Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security, Moeed Yousuf, had, however, struck down rumours about the possibility of any backdoor discussions with Indian National Security Adviser Ajay Doval. Considering the level of animosity, both countries had been harbouring against the other, a hotline was not enough to clear the air, though. The move has since clinched appreciation from all quarters, especially the White House that has instructed India and Pakistan to build constructive talks on Kashmir.

The 2003 ceasefire offer was made by the then prime minister of Pakistan, Zafarullah Jamali, on November 23, 2003, on the eve of Eidul Fitr. India accepted the offer a few days later in a statement from its foreign ministry.

Unlike a defined international border separating the territories of sovereign states, the LoC is the mutually accepted line between India and Pakistan. The line shall maintain the ground status quo until the final settlement of the Kashmir issue.

Since the LoC's...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT