Continued incidents of cross-border exchange of fire between Indian and Pakistani troops is a matter of deep concern for all those who wish to see peace in the region.
Latest reports from Indian side suggest that there was an attack by Pakistani soldiers on Kanachak district border post in Jammu area and that a guard was wounded as a result of that. While Pakistani side reports that Indian troops resorted to unprovoked firing on Pakistani soldiers in Sialkot sector of the border.
Earlier it was reported that that Indian Army Chief Gen. Bikram Singh had reprimanded top commanders in Jammu and Kashmir for not launching a massive retaliatory strike against the Pakistan Army along the LoC after five Indian soldiers were killed in a cross-border strike on Aug. 6. Meanwhile Indian Defense Minister A.K. Antony has said that it is up to the Indian Army to take actions in Kashmir, thus leaving the matter to commanders and generals only which does not augur well for the peace process between the two countries.
On the other hand Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has repeatedly expressed his sadness and sorrow over Aug. 6 incident and has called for peace dialogue.
For the sake of survival and welfare of one-and-half billion population of the subcontinent region, both sides must show restraint and let peace prevail in the region. — Shaukat Ali, Dhahran
Let peace prevail
