NEW DELHI – Ceasing of hostilities between India and Pakistan along the LoCin occupied Jammu and Kashmir must be on Indian terms, Indian Army chiefBipin Rawat on Tuesday said.
He alluded to a rise in cross-border firing by India as part of a largerstrategy to put pressure on Pakistan.
“So, we have raised the ante by resorting to cross border firing which isleading to violations of ceasefire. “Earlier, the burden was only on us toman the border and remain alert and now the Pakistan Army is facing thesame pain. They also have to now remain alert on the border,” the Armychief said.
The increase in the ceasefire violations had compelled Pakistan to deploymore forces along the Line of Control, which was earlier in the hinterlandor peace postings.
Recalling the time when borders were relatively calm and the ceasefireagreement was not being violated. The Army chief was speaking at an eventorganised by the Vivekanda International Foundation.
“Let me assure you, it is not just the Indian Army which is (alone) facingthe brunt, the Army chief said.
In a response to a question in the Lok Sabha last year, Minister of Statefor Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir had said in 2017, Pakistan violatedceasefire 881 times along the LoC and the IB in Jammu and Kashmir, killing30 people.
This was little less than double the ceasefire violations in 2016. Thetruce between India and Pakistan along the International Border and the LoCcame into force in November 2003.
He, however, cautioned that if Islamabad raised the “threshold”, New Delhiwould have the option of going to the next level. “And I think Pakistan isjust about ensuring that they do not raise the threshold, but then the callas to when we want to raise the threshold rests with us. It is is in ourhands to raise it, depending on how high we want to do it,” he said.
The ceasefire between India and Pakistan must come on Indian terms.
“So it must come on our terms. And those terms will come when they findthat we have the potential to raise the ante. Gradually, if this does notwork, (then) we can keep calibrating and raising the ante.