Ceasefire violations: India setting an example of patience or shame?

Bangalore, Aug 16: It was as if in response to PM Manmohan Singh's speech (on I-Day), warning Pakistan against anti-India activity, that Pakistan resorted to unprovoked and indiscriminate firing on Indian posts and villages. Thus, injuring 3 jawans and 1 civilian.

In view of the country premiers meeting over the extension of ceasefire, this act of defiance as if challenges the Indian patience, disregarding the repeated warnings of India to stop the violations.

India coward or patient?

The ceasefire violations proved a fact. India's silence over the entire issue, which is diplomatically termed as 'patience', could actually be an act of cowardice. Otherwise, how could a country tolerate so much in so little time? 12 ceasefire violations in a span of five days would have been impossible in the case of America, China or Russia.

We fail to understand why India is still looking for a scope of peaceful truce between the countries, even when the other side of the border continues doing its work (P.S: we say this, considering the fact that India is still mum over its decision of meeting the Pakistani premier).

A shame for us?

As the country celebrated its Independence Day with splendor at the National Capital, it was not fireworks that thundered the skies of Poonch, but mortars, shells and bombs. And India is still silent. Does that mean, we are not in a position to retaliate an aggressive neighbour who has the audacity to attack out borders during our Independence Day?

Many might take it positively, calling it 'patience', but we condemn the silence as we want a country which is a friend to a friend and a foe to a foe. Manmohanji, please wake up and see that the relation between India and Pakistan is not meant to be mended. They continue to make promises and break it. Things have gone way beyond any peace truce and patience. Please remember, it always takes two to take a tango.

What happened on 15th August

Pakistani troops opened fire on several Indian forward posts in the Balakote belt in the Poonch district. Firing started from 0630 hours and continues till late in the afternoon. Armed with automatic weapons, rockets and mortar shells, the pakistani troops injured three Indian jawans, who were immediately rushed to the hospital.

Pakistani army did not restrict its firing to the posts here, but also launched grenades and a shell of 82-mm mortar in Sanjote forward area of Mendhar tehsil, resulting in the injury of a civilian, who was shifted to GMC hospital in Jammu.

Moreover, a rocket fell and exploded on a cowshed in Basonia village of Mendhar, resulting in the death of a dozen cattle. Our forces are also reported to have retaliated with heavy firing.