ISLAMABAD: In a significant development indicating a thaw in bilateral ties a day before the swearing-in of a new prime minister in Islamabad, the DGMOs of Pakistan and India made a hotline contact on Thursday and exchanged Independence Day greetings.

While the Indian Director General Military Operations held out the assurance that no such action which might vitiate the atmosphere at the Line of Control would be taken, his Pakistani counterpart promised “investigation” if “actionable intelligence” was provided regarding certain Indian allegations.

The two officers expressed “general satisfaction” over the situation along the LoC and Working Boundary since their last communication on May 29 for reinvigorating the ceasefire agreement.

In hotline contact with his Indian counterpart, Pakistani military official expresses concern over ‘unusual movements of weapons and forces along LoC’

Pakistan’s DGMO, however, expressed concern over violations of ceasefire by India and “deliberately targeting innocent civilians” which claimed four lives and left 32 injured since May 29.

“It was conveyed that such actions are extremely detrimental for peace along LoC,” according to statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations.

The Pakistan DGMO also expressed concern over “unusual movements of weapons and forces along LoC” and cautioned the Indian official over any provocation which had the potential to vitiate the environment. “Indian DGMO assured that no such move had taken place.”

Indian allegation of infiltration and abetment of terrorism along the LoC were strongly rejected and the Indian DGMO was informed that “effective measures” were in place and no such presence or movement had been observed by Pakistani forces. However, “if any actionable intelligence is available, the same may be shared for investigation”.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2018