Omar Abdullah (file photo)
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today questioned the timing of ceasefire violation along the LoC a day ahead of Defence Minister Arun Jaitley's visit to Jammu and Kashmir and appealed for maintaining truce along Indo-Pak border.
"Is it just a coincidence that the Defence Minister is visiting J&K, for his 1st visit, to review the security situation tomorrow?" Omar tweeted.
Later, talking to reporters in Jammu, he appealed for maintaining ceasefire along Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir.
"To what extent this is an effort to test the resolve of this new government - to what extent this is time primarily because the Defence Minister is visiting Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow and is also visiting some forward areas - that will be a matter of speculation," he said.
"On my side, I can only appeal that calm be maintained along LoC," he said.
The Chief Minister said, "This ceasefire is one of the biggest Confidence Building Measure (CBMs) that has been given to the people of Jammu and Kashmir by both the governments of India and Pakistan. We will appeal that this ceasefire is maintained."
Maintaining that ceasefire has been a continuous affair, Mr Abdullah said, "Ceasefire violations, unfortunately, are not new phenomenon. They have regularly occurred along the International Border (IB), more so, along the Line of Control (LoC)".
Pakistan troops today targeted Indian posts with heavy firing and mortar shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir in yet another violation of the ceasefire, prompting retaliation by Indian forces.
Mr Abdullah said the ceasefire violations in the Rajouri and Poonch areas were significant as some of shells had landed in civilian areas.
"Significant ceasefire violation in Rajouri and Poonch with reports of some shells having landed in civilian areas. Some livestock loss," he tweeted.