Pakistan, Indian military officials discuss border disputes

ISLAMABAD - Pakistani and Indian military officials on Tuesday discussed ways to reduce tensions along the border as exchange of fire claimed lives of over 20 people on both sides in 10 days, officials said.

Both countries accused each other of violating the 2003 ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) that divides the two countries in the disputed Kashmir region. Border troops also traded fire along the Working Boundary which separates each other in Punjab province.

"Pakistan and India's Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) contacted on hotline on Tuesday and discussed the situation on the Line of Control," military officials said.

The Pakistani Director General Military Operations voiced apprehensions over unprovoked Indian shelling on the LoC, they said.

He informed his Indian counterpart about firing of Indian troops on the civilian population.

On Monday Pakistan's top security adviser called upon Permanent Members of the UN Security Council to urge India to respect the ceasefire agreement and engage in a meaningful and serious dialogue.

Adviser to the prime minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz briefed the Ambassadors of P5 countries on the situation prevailing on the Line of Control and the Working Boundary, the foreign ministry said.

The Adviser outlined prime minister's vision of a peaceful South Asian region and his positive overtures to the Indian government.

He expressed his disappointment at the fact that the Foreign Secretary-level talks, scheduled for August 25, were canceled, and later, India resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling on the LoC and the Working Boundary resulting in many civilian casualties, injuries, and extensive damage to property.

He expressed his concern that the ceasefire violations by India and the provocative statements by Indian leadership were not only a setback to peace efforts but also a distraction from Pakistan's counter-terrorism commitments in the ongoing Operation in North Waziristan.

Aziz said UN military observer group in India and Pakistan ( UNMOGIP) must also be enabled to play its due role in monitoring ceasefire to secure peace and tranquility on the LoC and Working Boundary.