Answer to Pakistan's shelling can't be words: Omar Abdullah

SRINAGAR: Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has called for a more aggressive response to continuing ceasefire violations by Pakistan troops, which is forcing people in border villages to flee to safety. In the last few weeks, continued shelling has injured many villagers, mounting pressure on the government to act. “Centre should explore other options if violation of ceasefire continues,” Abdullah said here.

“We do not want to retaliate bullet with bullet for the larger interests of the civilians living on the Line of Control and the international border. But that does not mean that the answer to bullet is not bullet,” said Abdullah, in a statement that will leave limited elbowroom for New Delhi to push policy in another direction. Abdullah has been an advocate of restraint in dealing with ceasefire violations, but as frustrations with the rising ceasefire violations are mounting in South Block, the chief minister has also ratcheted up the pressure to adopt a more muscular approach.

“A mechanism had been worked out whereby the DGMOs of both countries would meet to discuss cooling of the LoC and IB (international Border). That has not happened so far. I believe that is an option that needs to be exercised, failing which obviously, Government of India will have to look at responding in kind,” Abdullah said, addressing an event on the Police Commemoration Day in Srinagar.

“Tell them (Pakistan) that the answer to shelling cannot be given by words.” Omar’s call comes after four days of intermittent shelling in which eight persons were injured, including two border guards. On Monday, more than 10 border out posts (BOP) came under intense shelling in RS Pura, Ramgarh, Kanachak, Arnia and Check-e-Neck belts of Samba. The shelling from across the border is leaving villagers with little option but to flee en masse.

Nearly 500 villagers have already fled from their homes with cattle. Reports from Jammu said due to incessant shelling in Arnia belt of Ramgarh, locals sought shelter at the Radha Swami Satsang Ghar for the night. The first batch of migrants had come from Suchetgarh Kullian in Samba. Intense shelling is routine in select sectors and sub-sectors of IB and LoC.

A total of 136 ceasefire violations have been reported in 2013, the highest in the past eight years. Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde is visiting Jammu on Tuesday. The parliamentary standing committee on defence met in New Delhi on Monday and was briefed by top defence officials.

An MEA official said there was concern over the rising ceasefire violations. “Pakistan has to comply with the 2003 ceasefire mechanism. The ceasefire has not collapsed. But there have been repeated violations and this is not acceptable...,” the official, who asked not to be named, said.