ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday discussed the situation in India-held Kashmir with Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa.

“Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa called on Prime Minister Imran Khan at PM Office today. National security matters and the situation in Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir was discussed during the meeting,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a brief statement.

This was the first publicly reported meeting between Mr Khan and Gen Bajwa since a second term in office was given to the latter by the prime minister.

Tensions between Pakistan and India have escalated after Delhi revoked the autonomous status of held Kashmir on Aug 5. The valley has been under curfew for 19 days now and is facing a communications blackout. Fears have been expressed about an impending humanitarian crisis in the valley and aggravation of human rights violations there.

India has, meanwhile, resorted to increased ceasefire breaches along the Line of Control. Pakistan government maintains that Indian ceasefire violations are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2019