India-Pak DGMO talks: Pakistan warned from abetting infiltration

India on Monday sternly asked Pakistan to desist from encouraging terrorists and aid cross border infiltration if it wants to restore peace along the border.
 
This was conveyed by Lt Gen A K Bhatt, India Army’s Director General of Military Operations to his Pakistani counterpart Maj Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza during an unscheduled telephonic conversation during which two officers discussed the current situation along the Line of Control.
 
The talks happened around 10.30 AM at the request of the Pakistani DGMO, sources in the Indian Army said.
 
Lt Gen Bhatt made it clear to the Pakistani officer that if Pakistan Army continued to abet infiltration and carry on with the cross broder firing, Indian Army would take appropriate retaliatory actions.
 
“The DGMO of the Indian Army conveyed his commitment of ensuring peace and tranquillity, which is contingent on Pakistan Army's intentions and actions. Needless escalations by Pakistan Army were also highlighted,” Indian Army says in a statement.
 
On the issue raised by the DGMO, Pakistan Army on civilian killings, Lt Gen Bhatt conveyed that Indian Army is a professional force and would not harm the civilians in any manner.
 
The unscheduled talks between the two officers came in the backdrop of escalating tension in Jammu and Kashmir as both the armies fired on each other's posts regularly. In the last two weeks, more than 12 terrorists were killed by Indian security agencies.
 
Last week, Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat held a review meeting in Srinagar with his commanders to take stock of the security situation in the northern state.
 
While the officers from the two DGMO offices generally have a telephonic conversation once a week on a hotline, the talks between the two DGMOs happened depending on the gravity of the situation.
 
Lt Gen Bhatt and Maj Gen Mirza last spoke on May 2 when the Indian DGMO warned Pakistan for an “unequivocal response” for the “dastardly and inhuman” act of killing and mutilating the bodies of two Indian soldiers. The ceasefire violation from the Pakistani side, however, continues unabated.
 
The last round of cease fire violation on June 3 when Pakistan Army initiated indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics, 82 mm and 120 mm mortars in the Poonch sector.