Pause in fighting brings respite for civilians
Fighting between India and Pakistan paused yesterday after days of heavy shelling and gun battles across their disputed Himalayan border, the worst skirmishes between the nuclear-armed rivals in more than a decade.
Despite escalating tensions, Pakistan said war with India was not an option and that both sides should work to try and defuse the conflict, reports Reuters.
Nine Pakistani and eight Indian civilians have been killed since both sides' security forces started firing more than a week ago along a 200-km stretch of border in mostly Muslim Kashmir.
Relative calm returned to the region yesterday after a heated exchange of rhetoric, with New Delhi warning Pakistan it would pay an "unaffordable price" if shelling continued. Islamabad had said it was capable of responding "fittingly".
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Pakistan has been taught a "befitting lesson" with the Army "shutting their mouth", reports Times of India.
Addressing an election rally in Maharashtra yesterday, Modi said those living close to the border with Pakistan who had to leave their homes following nine days of heavy mortar shelling and firing will be adequately compensated by the Centre.
Pakistan's top civilian and military leadership also warned India of strong military response to its unprovoked firing across the Line of Control (LoC) and the working boundary between the two neighbouring countries.
At a meeting of the National Security Committee yesterday in Islamabad, leaders expressed their disappointment over the fact that Pakistan's sincerity has not been reciprocated by India, reports Dawn.
“Sadly, the unprovoked violations of ceasefire by the Indian Security Forces occurred in total disregard of the auspicious and festive occasion of Eidul Azha,” said an official statement issued after the meeting. “The Committee expresses its full confidence in the capability of our Armed Forces to defend the country against any aggression and safeguard the territorial integrity of Pakistan.”
Since they split 67 years ago, the two nations have fought each other in three wars, two over Kashmir.
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