New Delhi: For the first time, the Indian military finds itself stretched between the border with China where it is locked in an intense stand-off with the PLA and the border with Pakistan where it faces incessant cross-border firing from the hostile Pakistan army.
Pakistan increased bombardment of Indian territory, violating the Line of Control (LoC) ceasefire agreement as China started transgressions in eastern Ladakh, creating a two-front war-like situation for India.
Last month when India and China were engaged in dispute at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, Pakistan increased its bombardment across the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. As at Galwan valley near LAC, 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese troops were killed on June 15 in their worst clash in over four decades, around 13 to 14 ceasefire violations were reported from various parts of LoC.
In June, a total of 411 cases of ceasefire violation were reported. In May, 382 instances of ceasefire violation took place, and in April, 387 and in March, 411. February saw 366 ceasefire violations, and January, the number was 367.
However, in the first half of 2019, the figure of ceasefire violations was almost half this number. January saw 203 ceasefire violations, February 215, March 267, April 234 cases, May 221 and June 181 instances.
Altogether in 2019, there were a total 3,168 incidents of ceasefire violation, almost double the 1,629 incidents in 2018.
However, last year, Pakistan increased bombardment post abolition of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. The provisions of Article 370, which granted special status to erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir, were abrogated by Parliament on August 5.
In August last year, 307 cases of ceasefire violation took place. In September, the figure was 292 and all of a sudden in October, it increased to 351. In November, the number was 304 and in December, it was 297.
By Sumit Kumar Singh
