ISLAMABAD: Defence experts at a webinar on Saturday termed the Indian willingness to restore the ceasefire agreement on the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan an eyewash.

Though the experts welcomed the Indian aspiration for peace on the LoC, they said the move was aimed at ‘getting a breathing space for their strategic gain’ and diverting the world’s attention from the actual situation in held Kashmir.

They said the agreement inked in 2003 was revoked by the Indian government unilaterally in 2014 to intensify atrocities in the held Kashmir.

Pakistan shall ask India to do more in real terms to improve peace and human rights situation in Kashmir, and to stop unwarranted propaganda against Pakistan on the global forums.

The webinar was organised by the Development Communications Network (Devcom-Pakistan). The panel of experts included Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, retired Lt Gen Talat Masood and retired Lt Gen Mohammad Asad Durrani, Washington-based senior journalist Anwar Iqbal and Devcom-Pakistan Executive Director Munir Ahmed.

Experts say New Delhi’s move aimed at diverting world’s attention from situation in held Kashmir

Among others who spoke were Dr Khushboo Ejaz (Lahore), Azhar Aslam (London), Mohammad Waqar Anwar (New Zealand), Sarwat Kazmi, Mohammad Siddique (Karachi) and Ramzan Kakar (Quetta).

Pakistan and India on Thursday said they had recommitted themselves to the 2003 ceasefire arrangement at the LoC and agreed to address the ‘core issues’ that could undermine peace and stability.

The surprise announcement was made in a joint statement by the militaries of the two countries on a ‘hotline contact’ between their directors general military operations (DGMOs), which had apparently taken place a day earlier.

The conversation between Pakistani DGMO Maj Gen Nauman Zakaria and his Indian counterpart Lt Gen Paramjit Sangha was described as “free” and “frank” and held in a “cordial atmosphere”.

Senator Mushahid Hussain while appreciating the move said Pakistan should ask the Indian government to show their seriousness by restoring the position of held Kashmir as it was on Aug 4, 2019. All Kashmiri leaders should be released from illegal detention and the occupation of their lands reversed.

He asked India to realise that its Pakistan bashing strategy had failed miserably. All nations globally have seen the real Indian face after all the fake makeup initiatives surfaced recently. For India’s face saving, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shall come forward to convene a Saarc summit to engage all countries in peace building efforts, and to launch joint efforts against the challenges of poverty, economic recession, trade and climate change.

Gen Talaat Masood prayed that the ceasefire shall last for long though he pointed out that India could not stop itself from long violating the LoC. Pakistan needs to be vigilant about the post-ceasefire movement on the LoC as it could be a strategic move to camouflage. He said ceasefire means nothing if the situation in the held Kashmir doesn’t improve, and bilateral relations do not come to a normal.

Gen Asad Durrani said Pakistan should not expect any paradigm shift in the Indian mindset. The Hinditua policy would continue and there will be no improvement in the Kashmir. Terming it a respite for India, he said it would turn out to be a temporary ceasefire for some strategic gains that we have no idea about.Munir Ahmed said both countries were multi-ethnic nations and need to work out a way for harmony and peaceful neighbourhood through tolerance for each other.

Regional peace and prosperity depend on the peaceful living of both India and Pakistan. The civil society on both sides shall keep on raising their voices against the aggressive designs of the Indian and Pakistan governments against each other.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2021