| Change in Pakistan's approach turns out a mere myth | | The day Imran becomes Pak PM, JK's LoC painted red again | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 19: On a day when former Pakistani cricketer and PTI chief Imran Khan was sworn in as the 22nd Prime Minster of Pakistan, tension on the borders in Jammu and Kashmir returned, sending a clear cut message across the polite spectrum that things aren't going to change with the change of guard in the neighbouring country.
As per the reports coming to fore, the gunfight erupted on Saturday evening at Balthdiayan, Tanghdar, over 180 km from Srinagar, when the Army noticed suspected movement close to the Line of Control (LoC).
It was further informed that Tensions started mounting in the Tangdhar sector after an Army man was killed along the LoC on August 13 allegedly in a Pakistani sniper fire. The Army had, however, maintained that the soldier was killed while foiling an infiltration bid. A day later, the Army had claimed it killed two Pakistani soldiers in "retaliatory action".The cross-border shelling started at 9 pm on Friday and the exchange of fire continued till 4 am.
Meanwhile, as there were high expectations from many in Kashmir that the things would be set in order once Pakistan gets its new Prime Minister who has been priming good relations with India, the situation on ground has been turning contrary to the claims.
It is one again been proven beyond any doubt that Pakistan is in no mood to allow any pacification of the situation in the violence infested state of Jammu and Kashmir and that it will continue with its covert efforts to fish in the troubled water.
According to government data, 583 incidents of firing on borders were recorded in 2014, with 405 in 2015 and 449 in 2016 before leaping to 881 in the first 11 months of 2017.
From 2014 to November 2017, 55 civilians and 44 soldier have been killed on Kashmir's borders.
This year, More than 40,000 villagers have fled their homes since Indian and Pakistani soldiers began exchanging fire across their borders, raising concerns over the traumatized lives of common people in the violence-hit region.
At least 12 people including seven civilians have been killed in skirmishes since Jan. 18 across the Line of Control, a military demarcation agreed by both nations across Kashmir.
The exchange of fire become heavier on Jan. 19, forcing India's Jammu and Kashmir state to sound a red alert asking people in frontier areas to move out of their homes and take shelter in government safe houses.
Local media reports said 40,000 people have fled border areas, bringing normal life to a grinding halt as they have abruptly left regular activities of schooling, farming and cattle rearing. "What change is there on the ground as the new Prime Minister has assumed the offie in Pakistan. It is now a thing known to all that Pakistan in no way wants any peace to get established in the state. Day after day, such a reality is getting dawned upon all," says a political commentator based in Srinagar.
What remains to be seen is whether the government would continue to allow such ruthless use of forces on state's borders by the Pakistan or it will adopt a comprehensive strategy to deal with it. Only time is going to tell this to all of us. |
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