Indian Army opposes govt’s plan for border embankments
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NEW DELHI: Embankments along the India-Pakistan working boundary in Jammu, protested by Pakistan as an illegal wall, have been objected to by the Indian Army as a potential obstruction to its movements, The Hindu said on Wednesday.
It said National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval is grappling with a face-off between the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the army.
“The army has objected to the government’s plan to build a raised embankment along the 179-km stretch of the international border (IB) in Jammu district,” a senior Home Ministry official told The Hindu.
Know more: India converting LoC into quasi border, UN told
The plan for the embankment (better known as ditch-cum-bund) was cleared in 2013 by the then UPA government after the twin terror attacks in the Hiranagar/Samba sector the same year. Around 20 per cent land has been acquired for the project, being implemented by the MHA. The raised embankment will be constructed under the supervision of the Border Security Force (BSF).
However, at a recent meeting between Army Chief General Dalbir Singh and Mr Doval, the government has been asked to rethink the entire project, the paper said.
Also read: Indian BSF denies Pakistan's quasi-border claims
“The army believes that in case of an emergency, this embankment will affect their operations and restrict their forward movement. The army already mans another embankment, a few kilometres behind the IB,” the paper quoted a senior MHA official as saying.
Another official said the BSF had also been asked to submit a detailed report on why the project should go ahead.
A final decision will be taken by the Prime Minister’s Office and the proposal is pending with the Cabinet Committee on Security.
According to the Indian version, the Jammu sector has witnessed 589 ceasefire violations from Pakistan’s side since May 2014, when the NDA government came to power, till August 20 this year.
The same period saw 95 infiltration attempts from the Jammu border, the paper said evidently giving the Indian count.
Pakistan’s version is rarely cited in Indian media.
According to the paper, this is the same project over which Pakistan complained to the UN Security Council a few days ago. Pakistan’s Ambassador to UN Maleeha Lodhi, in a letter to the President of the Security Council, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, alleged that India was planning to construct a ‘wall’ along the border, which it called a working boundary, to convert it “into a quasi international border”.
Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2015
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Comments (97) Closed
Oct 08, 2015 06:40am
"It said National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval is grappling with a face-off between the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the army." Thats just desperate optimism by Pakistanis. Army doesn't get to decide anything forget protest. Army's duty is to follow orders blindly from Home and Defence ministries. This may be something totally new for Pakistan.
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Oct 08, 2015 07:05am
Build the border as soon as possible to protect innocent lives of j&k civilians
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Oct 08, 2015 07:20am
Great going India..........bravo modiji
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Oct 08, 2015 07:20am
I guess India understood what she thinks is right. What I believe, Mr Musharraf has a good idea about too.
The whole world knows LOC will be worked as IB later.
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Oct 08, 2015 07:42am
Good Move India build a big wall lets get separated and focus on economy...
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Oct 08, 2015 08:11am
Pakistan needs to object very strongly against any embankment or ditch or any obstruction whatsoever at the working boundary. Nothing should be done that makes it difficult for jihadis to infiltrate under the cover of darkness.
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Oct 08, 2015 08:13am
Musharraf regime allowed construction of dams and fences along the LoC. Now lets see what Nawaz and the present day military leadership can do about the embankments.
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Oct 08, 2015 08:27am
I wonder what would the Indian say now?
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Oct 08, 2015 08:34am
"Pakistan’s version is rarely cited in Indian media"
That is not really true. I have seen our version being highlighted in Indian Media. Of course they do prefix it with "Pakistan alleged" like we do about Indian claims. Both play games and innocent civilians and army personnel die. Only God knows the truth.
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Oct 08, 2015 08:35am
What is the similarity between embankment and wall?
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Oct 08, 2015 08:40am
Wall or no wall - India will do what's best for it. Mrs Lodhi can write as many letters as she likes... And tattle to as many people as she wants. Nothing's going to change.
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Oct 08, 2015 08:41am
Will Mrs Lodhi write a letter to UN too when Pak constructs roads in Disputed GB area for CPEC?
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Oct 08, 2015 08:43am
We are determined to get kashmir at any cost and no wall can stop us .
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Oct 08, 2015 08:47am
Pakistan should help for the cause as it checks Indian infiltrators into wealthy developed nation pakistan.
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Oct 08, 2015 09:07am
@sana-1 Carry on Sana with your determination..three cheers for the commitment. Infact i advise you to go to any registrar office in Pakistan and get the registry of Kashmir done in Pakistan government name .. sure they will allow it as no body will object the same in your country .
No matter possession of property will remain a question ...
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Oct 08, 2015 09:08am
@yogi good one
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Oct 08, 2015 09:11am
World bank says Pakistan in another 5 years will be the third largest economy and a per ca-pita will increase 10 fold. Poverty will be non existent.
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Oct 08, 2015 09:12am
This project is good for protecting innocent and preventing terror attacks..
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Oct 08, 2015 09:34am
@sana-1 You don't know ground realities. Can say anything to make a good speech and get like buttons
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Oct 08, 2015 09:35am
@sana-1 Four very insulting defeats in the 4 wars which we fought and you are still hopeful ??? On what basis ???? Chinas support or divine blessings ???
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Oct 08, 2015 09:38am
Earlier it is done, better for both countries
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Oct 08, 2015 09:44am
Indian army wants forward movement which is dangerous to us. I wish India and Pakistan jointly build such wall to protect each others citizens from misfire.
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Oct 08, 2015 09:45am
"A final decision will be taken by the Prime Minister’s Office.." - this is what true democracy is unlike some countries which call themselves democratic but Army takes the final decision.
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Oct 08, 2015 09:53am
Ultimately Civilians will decide whether to discontinue embankments...
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Oct 08, 2015 09:55am
Indian logic - protesting CPEC while building a wall. Roads that convenience people are an encroachment, illegal walls aren't.
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Oct 08, 2015 10:04am
@Abdul Wani why wait for 5 years when pakistan can be biggest economy by selling nuclear tech.
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Oct 08, 2015 10:05am
Army and NSA is on same page as far as pakistan is concern. Finishing touches are given to the project.
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Oct 08, 2015 10:06am
@sana-1 Last 68 years Pakistan has been trying and got decimated.
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Oct 08, 2015 10:07am
Pakistan should encourage india building wall on loc & start playing squash on it & bring back lost glory to the nation in this sport.
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Oct 08, 2015 10:11am
This clearly shows from which side to whichside infilters are moving and which side is trying to stop it..
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Oct 08, 2015 10:17am
@sana-1 Nice sarcasm........ :)
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Oct 08, 2015 10:31am
@sana-1 you cant afford it.
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Oct 08, 2015 10:34am
We can have swimming competition in those embankments.Pakistan willnow invite more chinese than gilgit population to thwart this.
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Oct 08, 2015 10:38am
In democracy every institute have right to raise their concerns. Pakistan will not understand this because it is never been a democracy. Half of its time is under Marshal law where freedom of speech is not even exist on paper.
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Oct 08, 2015 10:42am
Good....and then lets do graffiti on it....
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Oct 08, 2015 10:43am
@sana-1, Good luck, we can't stop you from dreaming.
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Oct 08, 2015 10:49am
@Abdul Wani --Abdul Wani , Wake up ! Its already 10 o clock in the morning....!
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Oct 08, 2015 10:51am
@sana-1 keep it up
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Oct 08, 2015 10:55am
With the likes of Nawaz and Raheel in command of Pakistan, Modi can do anything to it he wants.
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Oct 08, 2015 11:05am
They opposed Crips Mission Plan, They Apposed 14 points by Jinnah Sahib They violate LOC, They always violated water treaty. Whats new ??
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Oct 08, 2015 11:13am
@Guddu_Pappu Didn't Modi himself have an objection to this, which he voiced to the Un and the Chinese Premier himself??? Both shot down Modi's objections as they know of Indian designs to sabotage the CPEC.
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Oct 08, 2015 11:25am
@Abdul Wani IMF also said Pakistan is going to be next space power in 10 months ...
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Oct 08, 2015 11:29am
@prasant LOL
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Oct 08, 2015 11:34am
@sana-1 hahahaha, day dreaming
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Oct 08, 2015 11:37am
'jis ki lathi..' is the prime foreign policy principle Indian establishment follows. Being the biggest boy in the neighborhood, India is used to bullying all its neighbors.
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Oct 08, 2015 11:38am
@Another Indian indian army is influential as much as in Pakistan. On many occasions when so-called democratic Indian government agreed upon some peace talks or diplomacy options indian army just given a shut up call to whole indian leadership
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Oct 08, 2015 11:41am
Pakistan should oppose any such move using all the means in its capacity. India is trying to convert LoC into an international border to strengthen its illegal occupation of J&K. Our Indians brothers should also understand that no fence or wall can ease their feeling of insecurity.
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Oct 08, 2015 11:45am
@Ali (CA) Say what ???
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Oct 08, 2015 11:47am
@sana-1 Yes, you will pay a great cost and yes, a wall will stop you.
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Oct 08, 2015 11:50am
considering the size of a aggressor country like India , Pakistan is doing pretty damn well to keep them on their toes.
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Oct 08, 2015 11:57am
What is this "Working Boundary" only heard in Pakistani media?
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Oct 08, 2015 12:08pm
@ajay Read news carefully and then show your emotions!
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Oct 08, 2015 12:27pm
We have more freedom in media and TV then in India . DAWN is a reflection of mature and sensible journalism ,any Indian news paper cannot compete with DAWN on impartiality of news specially with reference to Pakistan
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Oct 08, 2015 12:43pm
@sana-1 good. keep dreaming.
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Oct 08, 2015 12:51pm
Pakistan stands free to shoot at anything which try to turn the disputed border into an international border. Kashmir is naturally Pakistan based on the partition-plan of Muslim majority states. Also, India did not accept Hindu-majority states to form part with Pakistan even when their ruler signed instrument of accession to Pakistan.
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Oct 08, 2015 12:52pm
@sana-1 Good
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Oct 08, 2015 01:07pm
@Abdul Wani Really???????????????? That's great news..
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Oct 08, 2015 01:12pm
@Sadhu: Nothing difference... it is just to terrify readers...
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Oct 08, 2015 01:28pm
@Farhan Exactly Farhan, I think only you got the core point here. Army is looking out for its interests which is the ability to launch an assault from any place of its choosing along the border, if it is called to do so. Civilian authorities, MHA, BSF etc are looking out for their interests which is to deter infiltration. Hopefully Mr Doval will make a wise decision here because it will be a historic one.
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Oct 08, 2015 01:31pm
@Ali (CA)
You must have read it
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Oct 08, 2015 01:33pm
Highly lopsided thinking of the Indian army. A raised embankment constructed under the supervision of the Border Security Force (BSF) of India would be a permanent threat to the security on both sides. It would make the forces torpid and therefore indifferent, taking it all for granted.
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Oct 08, 2015 01:34pm
Lets worry about our country than others.
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Oct 08, 2015 01:34pm
@Guddu_Pappu The world is changing and Pakistan is gaining momentum. You shall see soon. And when that change happens(read very soon), you will be found nowhere to comment.
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Oct 08, 2015 01:36pm
So the Indian government wants to "build a raised embankment". Now where are those trolls who were rubbishing Maleeha Lodhi's claim as the Indian version then was they are just "repairing" the existing fence?
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Oct 08, 2015 01:52pm
@Abdul Wani Best of luck.
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Oct 08, 2015 01:55pm
I have got a better idea - now that Pakistan knows that an embankment will prevent the Indian army's forward movement, perhaps the Pakistani army should construct it at their cost! Both sides will be happy!
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Oct 08, 2015 02:13pm
@Another Indian constructing a wall and hence declaring it as an international border would in effect mean that India is backing off from its earlier position of claiming the entire Kashmir. Are you OK with this :))
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Oct 08, 2015 02:20pm
@S.M.Shabbir Its true that DAWN is really really good media of Pak.
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Oct 08, 2015 02:21pm
Thanks India for making us Atomic Power and more thanks to come as Indian policies would not change towards Pakistan.
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Oct 08, 2015 02:43pm
Now it’s clear, the Indian government wants to "build a raised embankment". Where are those trolls who were rubbishing Maleeha Lodhi's claim as the BSF Inspector General Rakesh Sharma version then was they are just "repairing" the existing fence?
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Oct 08, 2015 02:43pm
@Another Indian I thought Indians said that no wall existed in the first place. A double faced Indian is definitely not new for us Pakistanis.
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Oct 08, 2015 02:52pm
To divert attention from the fact that such a wall exists despite claims by Indians to the contrary , Indians are taking the discussion to a Pak Army Vs Ind Army arena. That's typical Indian tactic , faced by discussion they can't win, they will try to lead the discussion in a different direction. The same Indians were telling us in comments section a few days ago that no such wall existed and now that another bare faced lie has been caught ,
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Oct 08, 2015 02:59pm
This is pakistans idea so deal with it but we in India are happy with both.
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Oct 08, 2015 03:04pm
a very high drama..
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Oct 08, 2015 03:13pm
@@expat Nawas wont do anything. He has business interest in India. Army might do something.
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Oct 08, 2015 03:19pm
@Another Indian quite true..just like in India the minorities are not allowed dietary freedom due to Hindu extremism and theres nothing democracy can do...such a shame
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Oct 08, 2015 03:42pm
What a joke , this modi govt is trying to save face now by using the army .who would not want a wall in such jungle areas . Modi wanted to build the great wall of Kasmir but it looks like this brick in the wall proposal has been shot down by UN. India is still a third world country for all practical reasons so it will listen to UN .No surprises here as this is saving face .What ops can army do in these thick jungle ravines, valleys and rivers except shelling .
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Oct 08, 2015 03:43pm
@sana-1 Retain what you have, and retain it well keeping people happy.
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Oct 08, 2015 03:46pm
@Abdul Wani Wish you well, Indians want a aprosperous Pakistan so that we can live in peace.
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Oct 08, 2015 04:00pm
The building of walls will not solve the problem it has to be th dialogue and solving the long standing issue of Kashmir. One cannot control people against their will.
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Oct 08, 2015 04:35pm
Dear Indian. Kashmir is disputed since partition. Your point of Jihadis infiltration (which r freedom fighters by our terms) is not completely invalid. But dear solution lies in resolution of Kashmir not in ditch creation. This ditch can't stop these freedom fighters from hurting u one way or other till Kashmir is resolved peacefully . We don't mind if u create it on international Border but cant allow on line of control which is equivalent to changing its status to permanent border.
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Oct 08, 2015 05:12pm
@Abdul Wani : That is what the international financial watch-dogs said about Pakistan in 1978 that Pakistan would become the 7th big world economy by the year 2000, without corruption. But, then they planted the terror in 2001 to apply the fast-backward back-gear !
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Oct 08, 2015 06:31pm
I wish that wall come to existence and both side will keep quit and happy by firing and wasting few bullets on wall rather than killing each other. Focus should be on economy not on war.
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Oct 08, 2015 07:18pm
sana1; Bravo, that the spirit.
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Oct 08, 2015 09:03pm
so indian army is thinking more positively than those sitting in their parliament with closed eyes....
world is progressing and India is having constipation to see CPEC ever since its announced... what's not letting sit Indian at comfort we all know, they are denied a UNSC seat and thanks goodness it was not concurred. India is playing all sorts of tricks to somehow disengage China/ Pak relationship. As china will indeed veto any such move made by India and Russia also will side by China. Selfies with German chancellor will not get you a seat Mr PM of India. you recent trip to USA ended with empty hands for you. leaving only one country to favor you ?... thats not enough. you need to learn and show more maturity and resolve for Kashmir and Pak LOC as a matter of respect to go back and try win hearts in obtaining UNSC seat.
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Oct 08, 2015 09:26pm
"Pakistan’s version is rarely cited in Indian media."
This explains it all.
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Oct 08, 2015 10:15pm
What else can they do?
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Oct 09, 2015 02:18am
Does India want a wall or does India not want a wall?
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Oct 09, 2015 09:29am
Indians had denied the existence of this wall. Looks like yet another barefaced lie has been exposed to the international community.
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Oct 10, 2015 01:33am
It is stated" The same period saw 95 infiltration attempts from the Jammu border, the paper said evidently giving the Indian count. Pakistan’s version is rarely cited in Indian media."
Can anyone provide what is Pakistan version?
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Oct 10, 2015 03:07am
@Another Indian
dear, fyi, the fact of the matter is that a few years back an agreement between govts of pak and ind over siachin was reached. however, this was not implemented bcoz indian army refused to let go their advantage
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Oct 10, 2015 05:26pm
@Another Indian , we know Indian officers are great people, they are human, having families. They don't want to create a war. They are advising Modi, stop your adventure! !!
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Oct 10, 2015 05:29pm
@Asit Ghosh, Mumbai , infiltration from both side must stop. Let's put this ditch between Hindus and Muslims, not between Kashmiris. They are 90 plus Muslims and divided families. India has no moral course to do so.
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Oct 10, 2015 06:18pm
Make as many Berlin Walls as you want for Kashmir. History is going to repeat itself.
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Oct 10, 2015 06:54pm
@helloWorld it would never happen inshallah
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Oct 10, 2015 08:53pm
injustices lead to uprising by the suppressed. give us back our Kashmir and you'll see approx. 1.5 billion people (20% of the world)in peace. no one wants to kill and get killed.
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Oct 11, 2015 01:59am
@Random Indian Then deploying massive troops in 2001-2002 must be an aftert-hought or the Indian political leadership who supposedly calls the shot got cold feet.... but it was twice not once: once in late eighties (Sunderji Brastacks) and then in 2001-2002 the largest and longest deployment ever..where is the beef in your claims?
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