India, Maldives hold defence dialogue
The Indian delegation was led by Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, while the Maldivian delegation was headed by Chief of Defence Force, Maldives National Defence Force General lbrahim Hilmy.
Mehbooba Mufti (Photo: Facebook)
J-K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti called for a dialogue between India and Pakistan to solve the ongoing tensions in her state which has resulted in the deaths of many people, both civilians and security personnel.
She also said that her demand might be perceived as against the country and she might be labelled an “anti-national” by the news anchors.
“Dialogue with Pakistan is necessary if we are to end bloodshed. I know I will be labelled anti-national by news anchors tonight but that doesn’t matter. The people of J&K are suffering. We have to talk because war is not an option,” Mufti wrote on Twitter.
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Dialogue with Pakistan is necessary if we are to end bloodshed. I know I will be labelled anti-national by news anchors tonight but that doesn’t matter. The people of J&K are suffering. We have to talk because war is not an option.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) February 12, 2018
Her comment comes in the wake of Saturday’s terrorist attack on Sunjuwan Military Station in Jammu and Monday’s attack on a CRPF camp in Karan Nagar area of Srinagar.
Mufti’s concern gains significance as Pakistan has been constantly violating ceasefire along the LoC, especially at many areas in Poonch and Rajouri districts, which has resulted in the deaths of many civilians.
Speaking on the issue of ceasefire violations on 5 February, Mufti had told the J-K Assembly that Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire agreement with India 834 times on the international border and the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir in three years, killing 97 persons and injuring 383 others.
Ten security personnel and nine civilians have lost their lives in Pakistani shelling along the LoC and the International Border in Jammu region in 2018. Over 75 have been left injured in the violations.
Operations to eliminate the terrorists are on in both Sunjuwan and Karan Nagar. Terrorists from Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) attacked the Sunjuwan camp in the wee hours of Saturday, 10 February.
Five soldiers have been martyred and one civilian has been killed in the attack. The Army has killed four terrorists in the ongoing operation.
According to the Army, one terrorist is still holed up inside the camp in the area which houses residential quarters of JCOs.
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) claimed responsibility of the attack in Karan Nagar which houses the headquarters of the 23 battalion of the CRPF. The attack was foiled by an alert CRPF jawan.
Security forces have encircled the terrorists, believed to be two in number, and an exchange of fire is on.
On injured CRPF jawan has succumbed to his injuries.
BJP is a coalition partner of the PDP in the J-K government.
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