According to the Deputy Inspector General of the Border Security Forces (BSF) SPS Sandhu, on Monday, Pakistan Rangers engaged in “unprovoked” firing along the Indo-Pakistan border at the Ramgarh sector of the Samba district. The ceasefire violation occurred at 6 AM, while BSF members were conducting repair work along the border. Sandhu added that the Indian side had “effectively” responded to the firing and there had been “no loss of life or injury”.
However, the Pakistani side blames India for breaching the ceasefire agreement. The Pakistani foreign affairs ministry, in a letter to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, said, “The Indian BSF troops displayed aggressive behaviour by crossing the Working Boundary and blatantly using mortars with an intent to sabotage the peace along Line of Control and Working Boundary.” The document stressed that the Indian side had fired “30 rounds of small arms and four bombs of 60-millimetre mortar without any provocation.” It also expressed its shock over the coverage of the incident by the Indian media.
In February, India and Pakistan released a joint statement saying that the two countries’ Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMO) had agreed to a ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC). “The two sides reviewed the situation along the Line of Control and all other sectors in a free, frank and cordial atmosphere,” the nations had said at the time, adding: “In the interest of achieving mutually beneficial and sustainable peace along the borders, the two DGMO agreed to address each other’s core issues and concerns which have propensity to disturb peace and lead to violence. Both sides agreed for strict observance of all agreements, understandings and cease firing along the Line of Control and all other sectors with effect from midnight 24/25 Feb 2021.” Finally, they had also committed to using the hotline mechanism and border flag meetings to discuss any future course of action in order to “resolve any unforeseen situation or misunderstanding.”
While the announcement appeared to be historic, similar agreements had been signed in 2018 as well as 2003 but were ultimately ignored. Official data from the Ministry of Defence reports that Pakistan committed 2,936 ceasefire violations in 2018, 3,289 in 2019, and an alarming 5,133 in 2020. Likewise, Pakistan claims that India committed 3,012 ceasefire violations in 2020.
In fact, tensions have been high despite the ceasefire agreement. Previously, the BSF has also blamed the Pakistani side for “nefarious activities” along its border. In a statement released on April 24, it said that two drones had entered the Indian side from Pakistan. It added that BSF troops had retaliated and successfully compelled the drones to return to Pakistani territory. However, after a short-lived lull of two months, this has been the first claim of violation of the agreement, therefore paving the way for a potential resumption of cross-border firing in the area.
Pakistan Violates Recently Renewed Ceasefire Agreement with India
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