In a debate moderated by TIMES NOW's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, panelists -- Sushant Sareen, Sr Fellow, Vivekananda International Foundation; Maj Gen (Retd) G D Bakshi, Editor, Indian Military Review; Syed Tariq Peerzada, Strategic Affairs Analyst; K C Singh, Fmr Secy, MEA; Admiral ( Retd) Javed Iqbal, Defence Analyst; and Air Vice Marshall (Retd) Abid Rao, Defence Analyst -- discuss the issue of terror unleashed by the recent ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the border in Jammu and Kashmir, and at the same time Pakistan crying foul and asking India to exercise restraint along LoC. In continuing ceasefire violations, Pakistani troops on Oct 7 targeted 40 Border Out Posts and 25 border hamlets with heavy mortar shells in Jammu sector and LoC areas in Poonch district, leaving 9 persons injured. Military officials of India and Pakistan discussed on the hotline the escalation in cross-border firing in J&K; but there was no signs of a solution to the standoff. In all, the Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire four times today (Oct 7), security and civil officials said. Officials of the Directorate General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two countries talked over hotline for five minutes during which both the sides accused each other of violating the ceasefire, Army sources said in Delhi. Today's incidents came a day after 5 villagers were killed and 34 injured in one of the worst ceasefire violations by Pakistan. Pakistan's night-long mortar-bomb attacks and rattle of heavy guns has sent the border villagers scurrying for cover with fear writ large on their face. They fled their mud-houses on buses, tractor-trollies and bull-carts to safer places in Jammu leaving behind deserted hamlets. With no let up in ceasefire violations at the Line of Control (LoC), anti-Pakistan protests rocked Jammu and other areas today to protest the firing and shelling. In another ceasefire violation earlier, Defence Spokesman Lt Col Maneesh Mehta said Pakistani troops opened fire with small arms in Balnoie forward belt along LoC in Poonch district around 1420 hours. In a ceasefire violation in the morning, Pakistan Rangers resorted to firing and mortar shelling in Arnia town morning, a police officer said. There has been heavy firing and mortar shelling on 20 to 25 border hamlets along the International Border in Arnia, R S Pura, Pargwal, Ganjansoo and Kanachak belts of Jammu district since last night. In view of the firing, over 1,000 people were also shifted to camps overnight. In a stern warning to Pakistan, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh ON oCT 7 asked Pakistan to put an end to firing and ceasefire violations along the border in J&K; saying if such breach continues, the army and every youth of this country will give a befitting reply. Amid escalation of ceasefire violations along the LoC, Pakistan on Oct 7 accused India of rejecting its efforts to preserve tranquility at the border and asked India to give peace a chance by "restraining" its forces. Expressing deep concern over the situation along the Line of Control (LoC, Advisor to Pakistan PM on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz said, the "Indian government has not been able to restrain its forces despite strong diplomatic protest by Pakistan." "We call upon Indian government to immediately cease fire and shelling and help us preserve tranquility," he said in a statement. Aziz claimed that Pakistan government has been exercising "utmost restraint and responsibility" though India have been firing and shelling for a week. "We also extended a hand of friendship to India. However, with abrupt cancellation of Foreign Secretary level talks, the Indian side has shunned all our peace overtures. We hope that the Indian side would give peace a chance," he said. "UNMOGIP (United Nations Military Observer Group In India and Pakistan) must also be enabled to play its due role in monitoring ceasefire to secure peace and tranquility on the Line of Control and Working Boundary," Aziz said. As per Indian authorities, 5 villagers were killed and 34 injured on Indian side in heavy mortar shelling and firing from across the International Border and Line of Control in Jammu and Poonch sectors, triggering strong condemnation by India. Pakistan said four of its nationals were killed in the firing by Indian forces. Congress launched a stinging attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue of ceasefire violations by Pakistan questioning his silence even as it wondered why the government was running with a "part- time" Defence Minister. Taking potshots at the Prime Minister, Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said Modi during his Lok Sabha campaign had talked about 56-inch chest but "it has now been reduced to just 5.6 inches". "It is unfortunate that civilians are being killed. But our Prime Minister is neither tweeting about it or mentioning it in his election speeches now. Why is he silent?" Ahmed asked at the AICC briefing in New Delhi.

• published: 08 Oct 2014
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