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dpa
Islamabad
Pakistan and India have agreed to uphold their ceasefire agreements in Kashmir, officials in both countries said on Thursday, raising hopes for peace in the highly militarised region after years of deadly border clashes.
The understanding reached between the military’s operation commanders came into force during the night, a joint statement by the Pakistani army and Indian Defence Ministry said.
A euphoria swept the region as both people and analysts welcomed the surprising move that was announced in Islamabad and New Delhi. Pakistan and India have fought two of three wars to gain control of the Himalayan valley of Kashmir that is divided between the South Asian nuclear powers but claimed by both in its entirety.
More than 300 Pakistanis have been killed since the signing of the ceasefire agreement in 2003 in clashes across the Line of Control (LoC), a 740-kilometre-long de facto frontier that divides Kashmir. Relations fell to a new low after India revoked a special autonomous status for the part of Kashmir under its control in a 2019 move that was followed by a months-long security lockdown of the region.
“This seems a great move ... Border tensions were depleting a lot of energies on both sides which could have been used for poverty reduction and social welfare,” said defence analyst Talat Masood, a retired Pakistani general.
Pakistan and India should now focus on measures that can help build trust between people and the states by restoring diplomatic and economic relations, Masood said.
Islamabad and New Delhi downgraded diplomatic relations, halted trade and suspended rail and road links following India’s revocation of Kashmir’s status in August 2019.
Most analysts believe the surprise thaw after years of hostilities might be linked with US President Joe Biden’s new administration in Washington.
“America’s new government might have encouraged both the countries for de-escalation,” said Irfan Shahzad, head of Islamabad-based Eurasian Century Institute think tank.
The announcement was immediately welcomed by the stock market in Pakistan, where the main index gained 600 points in the day’s trading and the local currency gathered strengthened against the US dollar.
“That’s the dividend of peace. Even an effort towards it can make a huge difference,” said Mohamed Ajmal from the Dollar East foreign exchange company in Islamabad.
Islamabad
Pakistan and India have agreed to uphold their ceasefire agreements in Kashmir, officials in both countries said on Thursday, raising hopes for peace in the highly militarised region after years of deadly border clashes.
The understanding reached between the military’s operation commanders came into force during the night, a joint statement by the Pakistani army and Indian Defence Ministry said.
A euphoria swept the region as both people and analysts welcomed the surprising move that was announced in Islamabad and New Delhi. Pakistan and India have fought two of three wars to gain control of the Himalayan valley of Kashmir that is divided between the South Asian nuclear powers but claimed by both in its entirety.
More than 300 Pakistanis have been killed since the signing of the ceasefire agreement in 2003 in clashes across the Line of Control (LoC), a 740-kilometre-long de facto frontier that divides Kashmir. Relations fell to a new low after India revoked a special autonomous status for the part of Kashmir under its control in a 2019 move that was followed by a months-long security lockdown of the region.
“This seems a great move ... Border tensions were depleting a lot of energies on both sides which could have been used for poverty reduction and social welfare,” said defence analyst Talat Masood, a retired Pakistani general.
Pakistan and India should now focus on measures that can help build trust between people and the states by restoring diplomatic and economic relations, Masood said.
Islamabad and New Delhi downgraded diplomatic relations, halted trade and suspended rail and road links following India’s revocation of Kashmir’s status in August 2019.
Most analysts believe the surprise thaw after years of hostilities might be linked with US President Joe Biden’s new administration in Washington.
“America’s new government might have encouraged both the countries for de-escalation,” said Irfan Shahzad, head of Islamabad-based Eurasian Century Institute think tank.
The announcement was immediately welcomed by the stock market in Pakistan, where the main index gained 600 points in the day’s trading and the local currency gathered strengthened against the US dollar.
“That’s the dividend of peace. Even an effort towards it can make a huge difference,” said Mohamed Ajmal from the Dollar East foreign exchange company in Islamabad.
