Repeated ceasefire violations: Does Pakistan actually want resumption of peace talks?
Pakistan continues provoking
These continued aggressions would definitely mar the relations between the two sides at a time when both the governments are pitching for peace talks. As many as 5 ceasefire violations have been reported in the month of August and today's was the third such incident in last 48 hours after an agreement to observe peace along the border between BSF and Pak Rangers at the Commandant level flag meeting at on August 8 during the handing over the BSF jawan.
50 ceasefire violations by Pakistan in 2014
There have been uninterrupted ceasefire violations from the Pakistani side which is evident with the fact that nearly 50 such incidents of ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the Line of Control and a dozen on the international border in the state have been reported in this year itself.
However, in the year 2013, their number was 199 along the LoC and 143 on international border. Not only security personnel several villagers living along the borders were killed and scores were injured in as Pakistani troops used mortars and automatic weapons.
With these border skirmishes Pakistani troops are trying to divert the attention of security forces to facilitate the infiltration of terrorists in the Kashmir valley, Army officials have been repeatedly saying. But, alertness and retaliation from the Indian side has kept the terrorists away from entering on Indian soil.
Sharif Government's unwillingness
This
entire
development
proves
that
Nawaz
Sharif
administration
doesn't
wants
to
establish
peace
with
New
Delhi
which
is
why
it
is
constantly
violating
the
border
truce.
The
second
saying
prevalent
all
over
Pakistan
is
that
the
Sharif
Government
has
no
control
on
its
defence
forces
and
everything
in
the
Army
happens
as
per
Army
chief
General
Raheel
Sharif's
wish.
Pakistan from time to time has witnessed military coups and saw decades of dictatorship. Powerful Army chiefs from Ayub Khan to Pervez Musharraf have seized power in coup in Pakistan. But, the Pakistani administration cannot shrug off its shoulders by showing its incapability to tame its own Army which is costing it improved relations with its neighbours.
But, the incumbent Sharif government in Pakistan too has not shown any such positive signals so far that would help resumption of peace talks despite the Narendra Modi-led Government making it abundantly clear that it wants improved bilateral relations with Islamabad. Sharif Government may have acknowledged India's invitation to visit New Delhi to attend Modi's swearing-in ceremony and exchanged gifts with each other. But, not enough political will has been shown by Sharif Government to engage peace talks.
By stopping repeated ceasefire violations along the LoC, fast tracking Mumbai terror attacks trail and imposing ban over Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jamat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of 26/11, Islamabad could have definitely signaled towards taking positive steps. On the contrary, its envoys brazenly defended Saeed saying India hasn't produced substantial evidences against him.
Time for Modi to act
Also, the Narendra Modi Government must ensure that such frequent provocations must stop before the two sides sit for talks. During his poll campaign Modi had severely criticised the then UPA Government for failing to curb Pakistani aggression. There have been more than 20 such instances since Modi Government came to power. But, things are still the same as Government hasn't done anything in this regard. It is high time Modi Government takes this issue very seriously and delivers on what he had promised to the nation during his electioneering.