Call to end firing across LoC

LAHORE

Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD), has expressed deep concern over the escalation of cross-border firing across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu & Kashmir and appealed to both the governments to take urgent steps to reduce the tension and end firing.In a statement issued by Dr Mubashir Hasan, IA Rehman, Muhammad Waseem from the Pakistan chapter of PIPFPD and Prof Asha Hans, Anuradha Bhasin, Jatin Desai and Tapan Bose from the Indian chapter,  a number of civilians and soldiers have been killed on both sides in the ongoing firing and shelling.

The civilians living in the border villages are the worst victims as they live in constant fear of death and destruction. Schools have been shut in these areas and students are deprived of studies. All families are facing mental trauma. The hard reality is they cannot go to any ‘safer areas’ as the harvesting season is on.The forum appealed to both the governments to take urgent steps to reduce the tension and end firing. Any escalation of tension is against the interest of both states and the people. 

They requested both the governments to immediately resume their dialogue as it was the only way to bring peace to the region. The dialogue must be uninterrupted and uninterruptible and should cover all issues, including terrorism.