Early Times Report
Srinagar, May 25: Asserting that ceasefire violation was mostly to help infiltration from across the border, Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat said Pakistan should stop sending militants into Jammu and Kashmir, if it desired peace.
''If Pakistan really wants peace, then the first step they should take is to stop infiltration of militants into our side. The ceasefire violation mostly takes place to aid infiltration,'' Gen Rawat told reporters at the renowned health resort, while on a visit to the Army Goodwill School.
He asserted that an end to cross-border militancy was imperative for peace. India, Gen Rawat said, wants peace along the borders, but Pakistan was continuously violating the ceasefire, which results in loss of life and property.
The Army Chief said when ceasefire violation happens from across the border; Indian troops can not sit idle. ''It is imperative to stop terrorism from across (the LoC) -- the camps which are on the other side giving training to militants and from where ammunition is infiltrated into J&K -- should stop,'' he said.
If that happens, the Army chief said, then, ''I can assure you that peace will prevail on the borders.'' The statement by the Army Chief came in the backdrop of Pakistan violating the ceasefire on a regular basis, resulting in loss of life and property along the border in Jammu region. At least five civilians were killed, while 40 others, including five personnel of the Border Security Force, injured, as Pakistan on Wednesday yet again violated the ceasefire and heavily shelled forward villages in three districts of Jammu region along the International Border.
On Tuesday, 13 civilians sustained injuries in fresh escalation of tensions on the frontiers as Pakistan shelled hamlets and targeted more than 20 border outposts in Jammu and Samba sectors.
On Monday, five people, including a policeman, suffered injuries, while an infant also died in Pallanwala sector. Pakistan Rangers also opened fronts in adjoining Ramgarh and R S Pura sectors. On May 18, a BSF jawan was martyred and four civilians were killed in the firing at Arnia and R S Pura sectors.
Troops of the neighbouring nation also violated ceasefire in Uri sector, while alert Indian soldiers foiled an infiltration bid in Keran sector of north Kashmir on Thursday. |
