New Delhi, Nowgam:
After sixteen hours of firing between Indian and Pakistani troops the guns finally fell silent on the Line of Control in Kashmir on Tuesday but it's clear that the tension is well and truly back in the relationship.
Monday's gun battle between Indian and Pakistani soldiers that shattered five years of relative peace along the LoC has taken India and Pakistan back to the bad old days when accusations and counter-accusations were regularly traded.
The Indian army says 15 Pakistani troops crossed the LoC on Monday and killed an Indian soldier. The Defence Minister issued a strong statement saying the government is ready to deal with such things firmly but is restraining itself to prevent further tension. Islamabad though has denied their troops did anything wrong and denied any casualties on their side.
A day later, it was Islamabad's turn to accuse the Indian army of trying to build a bunker inside Pakistani territory. This was clearly like the pre-2003, pre-ceasefire days.
India says 19 ceasefire violations since January this year is a matter of concern.
",The government is fully prepared to deal with any such instances firmly while maintaining adequate restraint to prevent escalation of tension,", said A K Antony, Defence Minister.
Pakistan however has denied any violation of the ceasefire.Pakistan Military spokesman Maj Fen Athar Abhas has said that Indian soldiers tried to establish a post on the Pakistani side of the LoC and Pakistan has proof of this. Also it has been alleged that when the Pakistani soldiers objected Indian troops opened fire. Pakistan has also denied that four of their soldiers died in the firing.
On the ground, in Kupwara, after 18-hours of intermittent exchange of fire, battalion commanders held a flag meeting and agreed to adhere by the ground rules of ceasefire.
Despite the flag meeting between the two sides there is no clear picture yet why Pakistani army crossed the LoC and opened fire on Indian troops. Whether it was a part of a larger design from Pakistani army or a localized issue, is not clear.
Monday's gun battle between Indian and Pakistani soldiers that shattered five years of relative peace along the LoC has taken India and Pakistan back to the bad old days when accusations and counter-accusations were regularly traded.
The Indian army says 15 Pakistani troops crossed the LoC on Monday and killed an Indian soldier. The Defence Minister issued a strong statement saying the government is ready to deal with such things firmly but is restraining itself to prevent further tension. Islamabad though has denied their troops did anything wrong and denied any casualties on their side.
A day later, it was Islamabad's turn to accuse the Indian army of trying to build a bunker inside Pakistani territory. This was clearly like the pre-2003, pre-ceasefire days.
India says 19 ceasefire violations since January this year is a matter of concern.
",The government is fully prepared to deal with any such instances firmly while maintaining adequate restraint to prevent escalation of tension,", said A K Antony, Defence Minister.
Pakistan however has denied any violation of the ceasefire.Pakistan Military spokesman Maj Fen Athar Abhas has said that Indian soldiers tried to establish a post on the Pakistani side of the LoC and Pakistan has proof of this. Also it has been alleged that when the Pakistani soldiers objected Indian troops opened fire. Pakistan has also denied that four of their soldiers died in the firing.
On the ground, in Kupwara, after 18-hours of intermittent exchange of fire, battalion commanders held a flag meeting and agreed to adhere by the ground rules of ceasefire.
Despite the flag meeting between the two sides there is no clear picture yet why Pakistani army crossed the LoC and opened fire on Indian troops. Whether it was a part of a larger design from Pakistani army or a localized issue, is not clear.
