India & Pakistan armies announce ceasefire, J&K sigh relief

On the eve of the second anniversary of the Balakot aerial strike, the Director-Generals of Military Operations of India and Pakistan issued a joint statement emphasising that the two countries had decided on “strict observance of all agreements, understandings and cease firing along the Line of Control (LOC) and all other sectors”. The agreement went into effect on the night of 24/25 February.

With National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval believed to be playing a key role, India has eased border tensions with both China and Pakistan- Ladakh disengagement and ceasefire. Indian Army chief General MM Naravane has spoken about the “advice” given by Doval in reaching a disengagement agreement with China. While the Ladakh disengagement offers greater hope of peace on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), it is the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan that will be more in focus.

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Reports suggest that the “sudden” change in Pakistan’s commitment towards maintaining peace along the Line of Control (LoC) happened after Ajit Doval met his counterpart Moeed Yusuf in a third country. Yusuf, however, in a tweet, attempted to distance himself from back-channel diplomacy.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s adviser on security affairs, Moeed Yusuf, said in an audio statement that the agreement on the ceasefire was the outcome of “behind-the-scenes” contacts. The ceasefire along the LOC and the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir is important and welcome. It will come as a relief to people in both countries who live in the vicinity of the LOC and the IB.

A plain textual analysis of the statement establishes though that the Modi government may be shifting from the tough posture it adopted on Pakistan since especially after the Uri terrorist attack of September 2016. That tough approach had hardened after the Pulwama terrorist attack on February 14, 2016, as demonstrated by the Balakot aerial strike.

The Indian and Pakistani armies announced on Thursday that they had begun strictly adhering to a ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir from the midnight of February 24. Here is all you need to know about the announcement:

  • In a joint statement, the two armies said the move followed a discussion between India’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), Lt Gen Paramjit Singh Sangha, and his Pakistani counterpart, Maj Gen Nauman Zakaria, over their established telephone hotline.
  • The two are believed to have spoken on February 22.
  • Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s adviser on security affairs, Moeed Yusuf, said in an audio statement that the agreement on the ceasefire was the outcome of “behind-the-scenes” contacts and “more roads will open” in the future.
  • Yusuf did not elaborate on the nature of these contacts.
  • The move comes when the Indian military is largely focused on the standoff with China in the Ladakh sector of the Line of Actual Control.

Finally, through the joint statement, India and Pakistan announced that peace was brokered during a telephone call between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMO) of the two countries. India and Pakistan agreed to abide by all agreements on a ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and the sectors of the International Border “in the interest of achieving mutually beneficial and sustainable peace along the borders”.

Sarpanch of Pukharni village in Rajouri, J&K said, “We want to thank PM Modi & Imran Khan (Pakistan PM) for this ceasefire announcement (at LoC). Earlier, due to cross-border firing, some villagers had died, while some lost their legs, eyes, & hands. Now, we can sleep and work in peace,” reported ANI.