March 7, 2021
The people of Kashmir are hoping that the LoC ceasefire will not be an isolated event and that it will be followed by normalisation of Indo-Pak diplomatic ties and partial demilitarisation of the Kashmir Valley
Indian soldiers patrol an abandoned street in Srinagar during the Aug 5, 2019 curfew. Source: AFP
In a landmark development on February 24, Pakistan and India have agreed to strict observance of all agreements, understandings and ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and other sectors. The move has been hailed on both sides of the LoC and in major world capitals and at the United Nations. The breakthrough has kindled hope that sanity will prevail and the current thaw will not be treated as an isolated event, but will lead to further positive developments such as the resumption of full-fledged diplomatic relations, trade ties, and above all, a serious and result-oriented dialogue on Jammu and Kashmir, the bone of contention between the two neighbours for the last seven decades.