Asem Mohiuddin
On Wednesday evening when India and Pakistan army jointly announced the ceasefire agreement on Line of Control, it shook the political pundits. It was an unusual and unprecedented step taken by the arch rivals since relations between the two countries witnessed too low after Narender Modi led BJP government took over in New Delhi.
“In the interest of achieving mutually beneficial and sustainable peace along the borders, the two DGsMO 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,” the joint statement reads.
The statement further added: “Both sides reiterated that existing mechanisms of hotline contact and border flag meetings will be utilized to resolve any unforeseen situation or misunderstanding.”
After India and Pakistan called off its political and diplomatic relations followed by the trade links in 2019, this is the major thaw seen in the restoration of normalcy between two sides. In the last several years, the two countries even went on an edge of war after India twice breached the Line of Control and resorted to surgical strikes in 2016 and Air strikes in 2019 in response to fidayeen attack on Military station at Uri and suicide bomb attack on Paramilitary convoy at Pulwama by a local militant.
This even didn’t stop here. On August 5, 2019 when India unilaterally abrogated Article 370 and 35A in Jammu and Kashmir followed by a massive military crackdown to restrict the civilian movement, Pakistan decided not to hold any talks with India until it restores its limited regional autonomy.
For a long time, the relations between the two countries soured. There was no hope that as long as India is run by BJP led Prime Minister Narender Modi, the relations between India and Pakistan improves. The joint statement at the DGMO level by the two countries threw surprises for political pundits. The media reports suggest that the joint statement at DGsMO was issued followed by high level track-II diplomacy between India’s National Security advisor Ajit Doval and special Assistant to National Security Imran Khan, Moeed W Yousuf. Moeed, however, played down any of his role in the back channel diplomacy.
“I have seen claims by Indian media that attribute today’s ceasefire announcement between Pakistani and Indian DGMOs to back-channel diplomacy between me and the Indian NSA. This is baseless. No such talks have taken place between me and Mr. Doval,” he refused in a series of tweets.
Moeed, however, welcomed the move and said that the intent shall not be questioned since the initiative was taken to save the innocent lives form both the sides of LoC.
“The welcome development on the LoC is a result of discussions through the established channel of DGMOs. Obviously these are by their very nature not in the public eye and done privately and professionally through the direct channel. Pakistan has continued to call for the 2003 ceasefire agreement to be honored and I am glad we have reached the understanding.
It must be followed in letter and spirit. Doing so will save innocent lives so no one should question the intent. Nor should wrong inferences be drawn. There is nothing more than meets the eye here,” he continued with his thread of tweets, not only to disassociate himself from the process but to endorse the move officially at PMO, Pakistan.
Before the ceasefire pact between the two countries, the army chief of Pakistan General Qamar Jawed Bajwa toned down from its rhetoric and said that time has come to extend the hand of friendship. “Pakistan is committed to the ideal of mutual respect and peaceful co-existence and it is time to extend a hand of peace in all directions,” he told media earlier this month.
The Pakistan Prime minister Imran Khan also welcomed the ceasefire restoration alongside the LoC between the two nuclear countries and said that his country has always stood for peace and stability in the region. He, however, said that the onus lies with India for the further progress to resolve all standing issues between the two countries peacefully.
“We have always stood for peace & remain ready to move forward to resolve all outstanding issues through dialogue,” he said two days after the joint statement was issued.
The United States and United Nations welcomed the move
“…The United States welcomes the joint statement between India and Pakistan: that the two countries have agreed to maintain strict observance of a ceasefire along the Line of Control starting on February 25. This is a positive step towards greater peace and stability in South Asia, which is in all shared — is in our shared interest. And we encourage both countries to keep building upon this progress,” Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in her Thursday’s briefing.
“…We welcome … the joint statement between India and Pakistan that the two countries have agreed to maintain strict observance of a ceasefire along the Line of Control starting on February 25. We encourage continued efforts to improve communication between the two sides and to reduce tensions and violence along the Line of Control,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Thursday.
“I wholeheartedly welcome today`s ceasefire agreement between #India and #Pakistan. Their stated commitment to achieving sustainable peace through addressing each other`s core issues and concerns sets an example for other countries and demonstrates #UNGA values,” United Nations General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir tweeted.
Meanwhile, the spokesman of Ministry of External Affairs Anurag Srivastava in a guarded virtual briefing at New Delhi said: ‘As regards to the joint statement of the DGMOs and related issues, I would refer you to the Ministry of Defence.‘ ‘On relations with Pakistan, as we have said earlier, India desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan. We have always maintained we are committed to addressing issues, if any, in a peaceful and bilateral manner,’ he said.
He struck his point without mentioning Kashmir: ‘On key issues, our position remains unchanged. I don’t think I need to reiterate it.”
Many diplomats and observers are apprehensive of the pact. While some believe that the ceasefire may not last for long, others think it was Pakistan and Kashmir on the losing end.
“It was a trap for Pakistan. India will itself violate the ceasefire on LoC and later blame to Pakistan,” said, former Pakistan diplomat to India Abdul Basit in his video podcast.
He questions India’s sincerity in the past to ensure calm on LoC and said similar proposal was mooted by Pakistan in 2013 but no response was received.
“This was not the time for bilateral back channel diplomatic relations for Pakistan. The sudden and drastic change in Pakistan’s policy is making it the loser of the game. Any such move should have been taken in presence of the third party,” he said.
Post August 5, 2019 when India scrapped special position of Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan had decided not to engage politically or diplomatically with India unless it restores the pre August 5 position of Jammu and Kashmir.
Lt.Gen. (retd) D S Hooda who was Army’s Northern Commander told The Indian Express one should “wait and watch” on how things pan out.
Earlier this month, the Union Defence minister Rajnath Singh on the floor of Parliament reveled that there were 5,133 instances of ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan last year. During the violations, Singh said, 46 fatalities were resulted.
Since it is believed that the agreement must have the approval at the highest level, it is to be expected that India and Pakistan may take the process forward.
“It gives us a fresh ray of hope to live at our homes peacefully,” said, Ghulam Din Khatana at zero line villages in Uri sector.
The only time when the LoC witnessed complete calm with no bullet fired from either side was from 2003 to 2006. Since then there have been frequent violations forcing hundreds of people to migrate to safer areas.
