PDP, NC, Hurriyat welcome Indo-Pak agreement over ceasefire

Srinagar: Regional National Conference (NC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and moderate Hurriyat Conference Thursday welcomed the fresh agreement between Indian and Pakistan armies over ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC).

“A big & welcome development that India & Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire along the LoC. Dialogue is the only way forward if both countries want to stop the unending cycle of violence and bloodshed across the borders and J&K,” former CM and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti tweeted.

Earlier this week Mufti had asked the Centre to talk with Pakistan to end bloodshed in Kashmir.

While welcoming the ceasefire agreement, the NC vice-president and another former CM Omar Abdullah tweeted: “We welcome it and hope that the statement will be followed in letter & spirit. JKNC has always been a strong supporter of the Ceasefire along the LoC. This will allow people living along the LoC & IB to go about their normal lives with minimal disruption & risk.”

Welcoming Indo-Pak joint military statement, wherein both have agreed to stop firing along the LOC in Jammu and Kashmir, moderate Hurriyat in an emailed statement said, “It is a move in the right direction, which will provide huge relief to the beleaguered people living under constant threat on the LOC and end the bloodshed there.”

Earlier in the day, India and Pakistan agreed to “strict observance of all agreements, understandings and cease firing along the Line of Control (LoC) and all other sectors” with effect from midnight of February 24.

A joint statement said, “This was agreed between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMO) of both countries during discussions over the established hotline.”

It further said that in the interest of achieving mutually beneficial and sustainable peace along the borders, the two DGsMO agreed to address each other’s core issues and concerns which have the propensity to disturb peace and lead to violence. (Agency)