Tasavur Mushtaq
KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Equations seem to be altering slightly if situation on borders is an indication. This Independence Day, Delhi was sour with Pakistan but too cosy with China.
For the first time after many years, rival armies of India and Pakistan confronting each other on the Redcliff divide and the LoC did not exchange sweets. Neither did Indian soldiers go with sweets to their neighbours on August 14, nor did Pakistanis reciprocate the tradition on August 15.
Instead, the two sides exchanged fires and shells. Islamabad on August 14, on its independence day, claimed India shelled its Sialkote area from Jammu which resulted in one civilian killing. There were many others who survived injured.
Apparently in retaliation, Pakistani gunners rained shells on LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts. Initial reports said more than two dozen houses were damaged and in certain belts people actually fled to safety. Officials said 120 mm, 82 mm and 81 mm shells landed in Shahpur, Kirni, Sabzian and Balakote sectors of Poonch and Bhimber Gali (BG) of Rajouri. There was, however, no human loss.
Today, PRO of the Jammu based 16 corps Lt Col Manish Mehta said Pakiatni soldiers pounded Mandi, Hamirpur and Saujiyan sectors of Poonch for most of the night till wee hours today. He said two civilians were injured in the shelling.
Given the two armies engaged in gun-battles, there obviously is no room for exchange of sweets. The major sweets-exchange function was taking place in Punjab but it was also cancelled, this year. But the flare up in border tensions ahead the meeting of NSAs of the two countries later this month is just an enigmatic pointer towards the peace building.
In contrast, Indian army spent a couple of hours with their Chinese counterparts in Ladakh sector. The meeting in which commanders from both the sides joined with their families has taken place in the Cheshul belt of the Sino-Indian LoAC.
Colonel SD Goswami, spokesperson of the Northern Command said they hosted PLA in Eastern Ladakh. Senior Colonel Liu Geping led PLA. Entertaining the guests, the host army exhibited traditional dances and songs, an old form of martial art called ‘Gatka’ as ‘Dare Devils’ of the Indian Army Signal Regiment performed acrobatics on their motorcycles. Later, the two sides had a friendly volleyball match.
Goswami said they extolled the virtues of maintaining peace and stability on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The two sides later fixed a new border personnel meeting as per the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement signed between the two countries in October 2013. This, Goswami said will go a long way in ensuring peace and stability along the LAC in eastern Ladakh.
Goswami said the personnel meeting took place at the northern-most meeting point near Daulat Beg Oldie. There, a PLA delegation took part in the celebrations hosted by the Indian side.
The Sino-Indian patch-up has apparently marked the end of the frequent reports that the PLA is actually getting into Indian territory and occupying spots which does not belong to Beijing. A status quo between the rival armies will help the development process getting into fast forward mode. Delhi is investing massively in creating critical road infrastructure closer to the border belts on the Chinese border.
