People's Democracy

JAMMU & KASSHMIR

CPI(M) Urges Indo-Pak Leadership to Intervene

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SAYING that the border skirmishes along the Line of Control (LoC) are not at all in interest of the region, the Jammu and Kashmir state committee of the CPI(M) has sought intervention from the leadership of India and Pakistan for bringing to an end these border skirmishes which have creates a sense of uncertainty on the LoC and the international border.

Issued from Srinagar, on October 25, a CPI(M) statement said, “It is in the best interests of the people of the region that the prime ministers of India and Pakistan take bold initiatives for cessation of hostilities that have taken a heavy toll on borders so far. We express deep and serious concern over the latest escalation in tension on LoC and the international border.”

The CPI(M) state committee expressed the belief that in no case is a war or jingoistic approach in the interests of people of the two neighbouring countries. “The shelling from the other side of the border must come to an end with an immediate effect. Such an aggressive posturing not only generates fear and panic among the inhabitants of border areas but have the potential to escalate the situation beyond control. The inhabitants living near the LoC and the international border have migrated en masse and their condition is said to be pathetic. The government must take measures to reach out to these families.”

The state committee regretted that the increased incidents of ceasefire violations on the LoC and the international border has unfortunately provided grist to the mill of jingoistic sections and war mongers who are hell bent to deteriorate the fragile relations between the two countries.

“The ceasefire agreement reached between the two countries had silenced guns along the border and had made other important initiatives possible including the trade and travel across the LoC. But, unfortunately, the latest shelling from across the border has derailed these efforts towards formation of a better understanding and amity between the two neighbouring countries through peace initiatives.”

The J&K state committee of the CPI(M) is of the firmly belief that for the last couple of years, despite many odds, there was a genuine commitment to better relations among political leadership in both New Delhi and Islamabad, even though some sections of the society in both countries were sceptical given the long history of conflict and mutual suspicion.

“The tragedy of the fragile relations between these two neighbouring countries is that the painstaking progress at different levels can be overturned in an instant by violence,” the CPI(M) statement said. “That is why it is in the interests of the entire region, that the leadership of both the countries must rise to the occasion and ensure cessation of hostilities across the border,” the statement added.