Indian military warns Pakistan against ceasefire violations

NEW DELHI/ MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan - The Indian military sent a “hotline message” to Pakistan on May 11 about violations of a ceasefire agreed this week and informed it of New Delhi’s intent to respond if it was repeated, a top Indian army officer said.

Indias Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) was speaking as a fragile 24-hour-old ceasefire appeared to be holding after both sides blamed the other for initial violations on May 10 night.

The truce announced on May 10 followed four days of intense fighting between the nuclear-armed neighbours. In the worst fighting in nearly three decades, they fired missiles and drones at each others military installations, killing almost 70 people.

Diplomacy and pressure from the United States helped secure the ceasefire deal when it seemed that the conflict was spiralling alarmingly. But within hours of its coming into force, artillery fire was witnessed in Indian Kashmir, the centre of much of last week’s fighting.

Blasts from air-defence systems boomed in cities near the border under a blackout, similar to those heard during the previous two evenings, according to local authorities, residents and Reuters witnesses.

Sometimes, these understandings take time to fructify, manifest on the ground, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, the Indian DGMO, told a media briefing, referring to the truce. The (Indian) armed forces were on a very very high alert (yesterday) and continue to be in that state.

The Indian army chief had given a mandate to its commanders to deal with violations of any kind from across the borders in the best way they deem fit, Lt Gen Ghai added.

He said his Pakistani counterpart called him on May 10 afternoon and proposed the two countries cease hostilities and urgently requested for a ceasefire.

There was no immediate response to the Indian comments from Pakistan.