Steep decline in incidents of cross-border firing by Pak in JK: MHA

New Delhi, Aug 3: In a major achievement of a peace building pact between the two neighboring countries, the Union Home Ministry Tuesday informed the parliament that only 6 incidents of ceasefire violations were reported across the borders of Jammu and Kashmir post-February ceasefire understanding between India and Pakistan.
The details related to the number of ceasefire violation incidents by Pakistan and the recent ceasefire agreement between the two countries were sought in the parliament and the queries were answered by the Minister of State (MoS) for Home Nityanand Rai.
In a written reply filed in the Lok Sabha, the MoS Home said that immediate and effective retaliation by Indian Army and BSF personnel is carried out during instances of unprovoked firings and ceasefire violations by Pakistan at Line of Control (LoC) and International Border(IB).
About the details of the number of incidents of ceasefire violation/ cross border firing in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan during the last three years, the MoS stated that in the subsequent years of 2018, 2019, and 2020 a total of 2140, 3479, and 5133 instances were reported in Jammu and Kashmir.
The figures shared reveal that up to the February month of the ensuing year a total of 380 and 278 (January & February) incidents of ceasefire violations were reported while only 6 instances were reported after the ceasefire understanding between the two neighboring countries which include 1 in April, 3 in May and 2 in June.
About the figures of increase in the number of ceasefire violations the MoS said that as per data available, no such trend is observed during a certain period of a particular year.
In response to the recently agreed fresh ceasefire agreement, it said that following scheduled talks between the Directors General of Military Operations of India and Pakistan over hotline, a joint statement was issued on February 25 2021 in which both India and Pakistan agreed to the strict observance of all agreements, understandings and cease fire along the Line of Control and all other sectors with effect from the midnight of 24, 25 February, 2021.
About the decrease in the ceasefire violation, the Ministry said that the ensuing year witnessed a total of 664 ceasefire violations of which 658 were reported in the first two months only. “The months including March, April, May, June witnessed only 6 such instances after the recent cease-fire agreement between the two countries.”
About the public including international agencies’ response to the ceasefire agreement, the MoS maintained that “as per reports, representatives of various political parties in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have welcomed the joint statement. Several countries have issued statements welcoming the development as an important and positive step.”
Regarding the further steps taken by both India and Pakistan to ameliorate the rotation, the MoS said that, “Government’s consistent position been that India desires normal neighborly relations with Pakistan and is committed to addressing issues, if any, bilaterally and peacefully in an atmosphere free of militancy, hostility, and violence.”
The reply reads that, “the onus is on Pakistan to create such a conducive atmosphere by taking credible, verifiable and irreversible action to not allow any territory under its control to be used for cross-border militancy against India in any manner.”
It further reads that India and Pakistan continue to maintain regular channels of communication through the respective High Commissions and other established mechanisms.