This Article is From Jan 11, 2013

India-Pakistan tension: bus services, cross-border trade impacted

India-Pakistan tension: bus services, cross-border trade impacted
New Delhi: Defence Minister AK Antony said today that the recent ceasefire violations along the Line of Control in Kashmir are "a major cause of concern." He also said, "We will take every step to protect our interest and the Indian armed forces."

Last evening, Pakistan and India exchanged fire, and a Pakistani solider was killed. India has said its standard operating procedure on patrolling along the Line of Control remains unchanged. It has also said that if Pakistan violates ceasefire again, it will respond "appropriately."

Indian officials say their Pakistani counterparts have confirmed that cross-border trade and travel are restricted for now. A weekly bus service between Poonch and Rawalakote has been suspended. Trucks headed from the Poonch sector to a designated trade centre in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir were not allowed to cross the Line of Control last evening. 21 items, mainly vegetables and fruit, are bartered between the two sides as a measure to build confidence and trust.

The tension which began with cross-border firing on the weekend peaked on Tuesday after two Indian jawans were killed by Pakistani troops who crossed the Line of Control in the Medhar district, 220 kms north of Jammu. One of the soldiers was decapitated.

Pakistan has dismissed India's allegations that it violated the line of control and ceasefire as "negative propaganda" and has offered an investigation by UN military observers, which India has rejected.

Both sides, however, are stressing the need to prevent the crisis from escalating. India has sought a flag meeting between Indian and Pakistani commanders in Mendhar, but Pakistan is yet to respond.

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