Narendra Modi can and needs to seal Vajpayee era-type deal with Pak:PDP

Jammu, Aug 28: Expressing grave concern over rise in cases of ceasefire violation, Jammu and Kashmir PDP today said the Narendra Modi government "can and needs to" negotiate an agreement with Pakistan similar to the one done by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA dispensation.

"I remind the public and the central government that if an understanding (on the ceasefire) with Pakistan could be reached in the Vajpayee era, a similar agreement can and needs to be negotiated under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi," senior PDP leader and MLC Vikramaditya Singh said.

Singh expressed grave concern over the recent violations of the 2003 ceasefire agreement along border areas of Jammu, including Samba, Poonch, Rajouri, R S Pura and Arnia sectors.

He said that his sympathies and prayers are with the families of the three civilians killed and nearly 20 injured in the most recent unprovoked firings by Pakistan Rangers in R S Pura and Arnia sectors.

Singh said he had appealed to the Government of India to expedite the process for a peaceful resolution concerning ceasefire violations as innocent civilians on both sides of the border have been facing severe casualties.

He said that from a humanitarian perspective the matter needs to be given top most priority. The PDP leader said the current status quo in Jammu and Kashmir is not acceptable to anyone in the state as repeated ceasefire violations and other outstanding issues have not been adequately addressed by the Government of India.

Singh, who had been extensively touring the border areas of Jammu in the past few months, said the responsibility for bringing peace in the state and as well as the region lies with the Government of India.

Three persons were killed and 17 others injured when Pakistani Rangers violated the ceasefire twice and heavily shelled civilian areas and border posts along the border in R S Pura and Arnia sectors of Jammu district today.

There have been 55 violations of the border ceasefire agreement by Pakistan in August and over 245 such incidents during the year so far.

PTI