The report “Locked in U.N. files, 15 years of bloodletting at LoC” (Jan. 30) is erroneous and speculative. The Indian Army is highly professional and does not indulge in unsoldierly acts as alleged in the report. The very fact that Pakistan has not raised any such issue in bilateral interactions since 1998 bears testimony to the allegations levelled against the Indian Army being misleading.
That there is no agreed mechanism to regulate conflicts along the LC is incorrect since existing hotlines were effective in reducing the tensions along the LC recently. DGMO level talks, inter-governmental discussions, hotlines and flag meetings between respective armies exist to regulate such situations. All the incidents are brought to the notice of MoD and MEA. The report seems based on one-sided allegations made by the Pakistani Army to UNMOGIP. Since the 1972 Shimla Agreement, the relevance of UNMOGIP itself remains questionable.
Col. Jagdeep Dahiya, New Delhi
( Our correspondent replies: The Hindu had sought the Army’s comments before publishing its story but received no response.)
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