Bilateral Dialogue: edit in The Nation, September 22, 2016

A military official and the Foreign Office dismissed the Indian claims of ceasefire violation by Pakistan on the Line of Control (LoC) on Tuesday. The Indian allegations of having thwarted an infiltration bid were termed as baseless as there had been no activity at the LoC at all.As pointed out by Pakistani officials, India’s three-tier counter-infiltration arrangement on the LoC and Pakistan’s own fortifications on this side of the border would make cross-border infiltration a very tough endeavour for either side.Even India admits that that Pakistan has fortified sensitive positions along the border during a high-level meeting with PM Modi, which is why this entire narrative is a little hard to believe, especially without even a shred of evidence to support it.
Pakistan has allegations of its own as well.The year 2014-2015 is testament to the unprovoked firing patterns of the Indian side and the repeated violation of the LoC that culminated in many deaths.The firing from the Indian side of the border at Harpal and Chaprar that left eight civilians dead and 47 injured in August 2015 was one of the deadliest, after which bilateral dialogue resolved the issue for a while.The same initiative is required now when the narrative on both sides of the border has become vitriolic and needs to be curtailed before it gets out of hand.
The Pakistan army has raised its defensive posture along the Line of Control (LoC) as is standard operation in the face of heightened tensions.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and key ministers received counsel against rash military action at their first full-scale meeting Monday.War should not be a viable option now or in the future and the sooner bilateral dialogue is initiated the better it will be for the peace and security of the region.http://nation.com.pk/editorials/22-Sep-2016/bilateral-dialogue