Pakistan Offers to De-Escalate Tensions With India Along the LoC

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(Photo Courtesy: Muneeb Ul Islam)

Amid heightening tensions, Pakistan has requested India to de-escalate tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) between security forces of the two countries, reported India Today.

The request, which was made via diplomatic channels, offers to remove its Special Service Group (SSG) – the special forces of Pakistan – from the LoC and a “moratorium on the artillery fire from both sides,” a report sent to the Prime Minister’s Office said, according to Hindustan Times.

Pakistan had moved special forces and troops along the LoC and maintained a precautionary deployment after the Pulwama terror attack in February that killed over 45 CRPF personnel and the subsequent air strikes by the Indian Air Force in Balakot.

Meanwhile, India has said that the de-esclation will happen only when Pakistan takes strong measures to curb terror activities from its soil.

‘Pak to Continue With Proposals of De-escalation’

As per a review by the army in the aftermath of Pulwama attack and airstrikes by the IAF, the report acknowledged that Pakistan took steps to close terror infrastructure across the LoC.

According to the report, there have been no infiltration attempts and no attempt to carry out cross border tactical action since the Pulwama terror attack, reported the Hindustan Times. Terror launch pads along the LoC have also been empty.

A senior defence ministry official said that the shrinking of terror launch pads from active areas like Poonch and Rajouri indicate on-ground signals for de-escalation by Pakistan.

The assessment said that Pakistan will continue with proposals of de-escalation both through military and diplomatic channels, according to India Today.

(With inputs from Hindustan Times and India Today.)