After India, Pakistan exchange fire, DGMOs speak over hotline

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 22

Within hours of Indian and Pakistani troops exchanging fire along the Line of Control (LoC), India’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) on Friday made it clear to his Pakistani counterpart that Indian Army reserved the right to retaliate to any incident leading to loss of life on the Indian side.

DGMO Lt Gen AK Bhatt spoke to his Pakistani counterpart DGMO Maj Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza over the phone hotline around 1.30 pm.

He said, “The Indian Army is sincere in its effort to maintain peace and tranquillity along the LoC provided there is a reciprocal effort from Pakistan.” 

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The Indian DGMO told his counterpart that Indian troops—the Army and the BSF--were only responding to the ceasefire violations initiated by Pak Rangers. 

The Pak DGMO raised the issue of Indian troops targeting civilians. Lt Gen Bhatt put it across to his counterpart that the infiltration from across the LoC was on. The BSF had lost two of its men earlier this week.

The last time the two officials had spoken to each other was on July 20. Normally senior officials of both sides speak to each other during the weekly scheduled talk. The DGMOs intervene when things heat up along the 749-km-long LoC.

The hotline connects the South Block in Delhi with the Pak Army Headquarters.