Mazhar Iqbal
Muzaffarabad: Poor village women of Neelum Valley in Pakistan Administered Kashmir have strongly protested against the fragility of India-Pakistan peace process. The demonstration held in Athmuqam, a border town adjacent to Line of Control (Loc) in Jammu & Kashmir.
These women are reportedly up in arms over recent tensions on India-Pakistan border amid a poisonous spate of allegations from India and Pakistan against each other, purported media hype and a renewed terrorist activity in their area.
A large number of women, thwarting the police barricade, approached the Pakistan Army Commanders in Athmuqam – the district headquarters of Neelum Valley – and urged the officers to take sincere steps in order to bring normalcy on Line of Control.
Their main fear is that tensions and cross border firing in their area would once again adversely affect the relative peace that has held on both sides of the Line of Control since 2003 ceasefire. With memories of regular crossfire along the LoC still fresh, their fear is that the heightened military activity across the Line of Control in the area would adversely affect their lives.
The protestors urged India and Pakistan to maintain peace along the Line and Control to avoid casualties of civilians and army men. ‘International community should take urgent action to stop instability along the LoC, otherwise, the civilians life could be paralysed again like it happened before the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan’, they said.
This protest have been launched at a time when Pakistan Army on Wednesday claimed that unprovoked Indian firing across the Line of Control in Kashmir has killed one of its officers and injured a soldier. A senior military official said the incident took place in Shakma sector near Skardu on the LoC. “A Pakistan Army officer, Captain Sarfraz, (was killed) due to unprovoked Indian firing. A soldier was seriously injured due to the shelling,†the officer said on condition of anonymity.He claimed Indian troops started firing at 11.15 pm yesterday and the Pakistani side responded “effectivelyâ€. The exchange continued till 2.15 am this morning, he said.
The two armies have blamed each other of several violations of a 2003 ceasefire on the LoC.
Last few weeks have brought renewed tensions on Kashmir border. It was also reported earlier that r five Indian soldiers were killed in an attack by Pakistani troops along the LoC about two weeks ago.
