Answer

The Line of Control (LoC) is a 740 km military boundary dividing Indian-administered Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, created after the 1971 war under the Simla Agreement (1972). It remains a conflict-prone frontier, symbolizing unresolved territorial and political disputes between India and Pakistan.

Evolution of the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan

• Origin after the 1947–48 War: The LoC originated as the Ceasefire Line after the first India-Pakistan war, brokered by the United Nations to halt military operations.
• Simla Agreement and Renaming (1972): Following the 1971 war, the Simla Agreement redefined the Ceasefire Line as the Line of Control, affirming the need for bilateral resolution.
• Kargil War and LoC Breach (1999): Pakistan-backed forces crossed the LoC and occupied Indian positions, leading to a high-altitude conflict in Kargil.
  For example: During Operation Vijay (1999), the Indian Army recaptured key heights, re-establishing control up to the LoC.
• Periodic Ceasefire Agreements: Multiple ceasefires have been signed to regulate military engagement but were often violated amid rising tensions.
  For example: The 2003 ceasefire agreement initially reduced cross-border firing, though violations increased after 2008.
• Reaffirmation of Ceasefire (2021): A renewed commitment to ceasefire in February 2021 marked a significant reduction in violence.

Key Issues Associated with the LoC

• Persistent Ceasefire Violations: Frequent cross-border shelling causes casualties and displaces civilians in frontier villages.
  For example: India reported over 5,100 violations by Pakistan in 2020, the highest ever in a single year, as per MoD.
• Militant Infiltration: The porous LoC enables militant infiltration into Indian territory, destabilizing internal security.
• Civilian Trauma and Displacement: Ongoing hostilities disrupt daily life, destroy property, and traumatize local populations.
• Derailment of Peace Talks: Regular tensions at the LoC obstruct bilateral diplomacy and confidence-building efforts.
  For example: The 2016 Uri attack and subsequent surgical strikes disrupted all formal dialogue channels between the nations.
• Environmental Degradation: Militarization near the LoC impacts fragile mountain ecosystems through deforestation and waste.
  For example: The MoEFCC noted rising ecological stress in the Pir Panjal region due to troop deployment and construction.

Measures Undertaken to Manage Tensions Along LoC

• Ceasefire Agreements: India and Pakistan have periodically agreed to halt hostilities, especially during high-tension periods.
  For example: The 2003 ceasefire stabilized the LoC and brought temporary peace in border zones such as Uri and Tangdhar.
• Hotlines and Military Talks: Communication channels between Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) prevent escalation.
  For example: The DGMO hotline, operational since 1990, played a key role in implementing the 2021 ceasefire.
• Cross-LoC Confidence-Building Measures: Initiatives like bus services and trade exchanges foster people-to-people contact.
  For example: The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Bus Service, launched in 2005, reconnected over separated families.
• Civilian Protection Infrastructure: India has constructed community bunkers, border fencing, and early warning systems to protect residents.
  For example: The MHA sanctioned 14,460 community and individual bunkers in Jammu and Kashmir since 2018.
• Tech-Enhanced Surveillance and Patrol: Border security uses drones, thermal imaging, and the CIBMS to monitor infiltration.
  For example: The Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) was installed in LoC sectors to enhance all-weather surveillance.

The LoC remains a volatile flashpoint, marked by military standoffs, civilian suffering, and diplomatic deadlocks. While efforts like ceasefires, CBMs, and surveillance upgrades have mitigated tensions, sustainable peace requires deeper political engagement and a commitment to non-violence and bilateral resolution.

DOWNLOAD PDF