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No Indo-Pak I-Day celebrations on international border, LoC this year
It was a low-key celebration by Indian and Pakistani troops along the LoC and the international border in Jammu and Kashmir. Given the current state of relations, neither side showed an eagerness to celebrate with the other.
Amid rising Indo-Pak hostilities, the nuclear neighbours did not assemble either at any of the posts along the 744 km long Line of Control and 198 km long International Border in Jammu and Kashmir to celebrate their respective Independence days with each other on Monday and Tuesday.
“There are no celebrations on August 14 and 15 for obvious reasons at any of the meeting points on the International Border,” a top BSF officer said.
He, however, informed that officers and BSF men besides their families marked the 71st Independence Day with fervour and gaiety at various formations.
The main function was held at the BSF headquarters in Paloura here where the force’s inspector general Ram Awatar hoisted the tricolour and then mingled with BSF men and their families to celebrate the day.
Similarly, there were no celebrations between Indian army and Pakistani army on the LoC.
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“There are no reports of celebrations on Monday and Tuesday as yet with me,” said an officer.
During normalcy along the Indo-Pak border, the BSF celebrates national festival with Pakistan Rangers on the international border and Indian Army marks such festivals with Pak Army on the LoC.
Till August 1 this year, Pakistan has violated the ceasefire 285 times along the LoC.
The Pakistani army has also been resorting to indiscriminate fire on civilians since May this year on the LoC, especially in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district.
Indian security forces have eliminated more than 132 terrorists in Kashmir this year so far.
