DGMOs establish hotline contact after 6 Pak nationals died in retaliatory fire
In six weeks from now, the basmati crop in Jammu, Samba, Kathua and RS Pura in lower parts of the state will be ready for harvest. As per the past pattern, Pakistani forces are now keeping up with intermittent fire from across the Line of Control to scare away farmers as the crop nears maturity.
Indian and Pakistani troops yet again exchanged fire yesterday and this morning. The Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both sides intervened at 1.30 pm and spoke to each other over the telephonic hotline.
India’s DGMO Lt Gen AK Bhatt today made it clear to his Pakistani counterpart Maj Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza that “India has the right to retaliate appropriately to any incident leading to the loss of life of our troops.” The last time the two officials spoke to each other was on July 20.
The Director General of Inter Service Public Relations of Pakistan, Maj Gen Asif Ghaffor, tweeted this morning that six Pakistani civilians had been killed in the Indian firing. “There was no targeted firing on civilians,” said the Indian side.
The Indian DGMO said all violations of the ceasefire in the Jammu sector were initiated by Pakistan Rangers and the BSF had only responded. “The trend of infiltration along the LoC continued with the active support of Pakistani forward posts… This was evident from the continued attempts of sniping and targeting of our troops,” Lt Gen Bhatt said.
Sources said in the last one week, the matter had started “heating up” as the basmati crop was maturing. Exports and sales of this fine rice from this region alone is about Rs 125 crore. It is a major cash crop in the region.
Both India and Pakistan hold the Geographical Indicator (GI) certification for basmati globally.
On September 15, the Pakistan Rangers opened fire at Arnia in Jammu sector, killing a constable of the Border Security Force and injuring a civilian.
