India, Pakistan agree to end skirmishes

SRINAGAR: India and Pakistan have agreed to end skirmishes that have left two soldiers dead and led to artillery deployment close to the Line of Control for the first time in a decade.

In a half-hour meeting in Poonch, top commanders of Indian and Pakistani armies agreed not to violate the ceasefire, which had been in place since November 2002. The Pakistani representative remained non-committal on whether the Chakan da Bagh gates would be opened for trade and the weekly bus service. However, an official, who did not wish to be named, said this could happen as early as Monday.

The meeting was sought by the Indian commanders after Pak resorted to firing on Indian positions in Krishna Ghati sector between June 12 and June 19. Brigadier MK Maggoo, who commands Poonch Brigade, represented the Indian side and said India had only retaliated to the Pak firing, a person privy to the details of the meeting said.

"Most of the discussion revolved round air space violations by Pakistan Air Force, truce violation and deliberate attempts by Pakistani soldiers to push intruders into India, after causing forest fire along the LoC which damaged the fence and mines laid by the Indian army to foil any attempt of anti-national elements," the person said.