In a breakthrough development, India and Pakistan have agreed to lower the temperature at the Line of Control(LoC) with "strict observance" of the 2003 ceasefire pact with both the militaries issuing a rare joint statement.

Watch:

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The joint statement issued simultaneously said, "both sides agreed for strict observance of all agreements, understandings and cease firing along the Line of Control and all other sectors with effect from midnight 24/25 Feb 2021"

The statement was issued after the Indian and Pakistani Director Generals of Military Operations(DGMOs) had held "hotline" talks in which both sides "reviewed" the situation along the Line of Control and all other sectors in a "free, frank and cordial atmosphere."

The ceasefire at LoC has been only in name with firing on a daily basis impacting civilians. The development will be beneficial for the region and the civilian population residing in the area. Largely, it is an attempt to bring down violence level along&nbsp;the LoC.

The statement said, "in the interest of achieving mutually beneficial and sustainable peace along the borders" the two DGMOs agreed to address "each other’s core issues and concerns which have the propensity to disturb the peace and lead to violence."&nbsp;

In fact, both have agreed to use the hotline mechanism, and border flag meetings as a mechanism to "resolve any unforeseen situation or misunderstanding."

WION has learnt&nbsp;operation against terrorists and infiltrators will not be stopped by the Indian Army at the LC and in the hinterland.&nbsp;

Interestingly, the Indian Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane had on Wednesday at an event said, "with continuous engagement with Pakistan, we will be able to prevail over them and come to an understanding that violence at the border helps no one."

India and Pakistani ties since the 2019 Pulwama terror attack have gone in downhill.&nbsp;

The attack killed over 40 Indian paramilitary men was perpetrated by Pakistan based Jaish-e-Mohammed(JeM).&nbsp;

After India removed special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019, the situation had gone further downhill with people-to-people contact being suspended by Islamabad.

In a breakthrough development, India and Pakistan have agreed to lower the temperature at the Line of Control(LoC) with "strict observance" of the 2003 ceasefire pact with both the militaries issuing a rare joint statement.

In a breakthrough development, India and Pakistan have agreed to lower the temperature at the Line of Control(LoC) with "strict observance" of the 2003 ceasefire pact with both the militaries issuing a rare joint statement. Watch: The joint statement issued simultaneously said, "both sides agreed for strict observance of all agreements, understandings and cease firing along the Line of Control and all other sectors with effect from midnight 24/25 Feb 2021" The statement was issued after the Indian and Pakistani Director Generals of Military Operations(DGMOs) had held "hotline" talks in which both sides "reviewed" the situation along the Line of Control and all other sectors in a "free, frank and cordial atmosphere." The ceasefire at LoC has been only in name with firing on a daily basis impacting civilians. The development will be beneficial for the region and the civilian population residing in the area. Largely, it is an attempt to bring down violence level along the LoC. The statement said, "in the interest of achieving mutually beneficial and sustainable peace along the borders" the two DGMOs agreed to address "each other’s core issues and concerns which have the propensity to disturb the peace and lead to violence." In fact, both have agreed to use the hotline mechanism, and border flag meetings as a mechanism to "resolve any unforeseen situation or misunderstanding." WION has learnt operation against terrorists and infiltrators will not be stopped by the Indian Army at the LC and in the hinterland. Interestingly, the Indian Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane had on Wednesday at an event said, "with continuous engagement with Pakistan, we will be able to prevail over them and come to an understanding that violence at the border helps no one." India and Pakistani ties since the 2019 Pulwama terror attack have gone in downhill. The attack killed over 40 Indian paramilitary men was perpetrated by Pakistan based Jaish-e-Mohammed(JeM). After India removed special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019, the situation had gone further downhill with people-to-people contact being suspended by Islamabad.

India, Pakistan agree on 'strict observance' of ceasefire along LoC

India's Army chief General Naravane said today that Pakistan continues to "embrace terrorism and continues to use terror as state policy." "We reserve our right to respond at a time and place of our choosing with precision.

India's Army chief General Naravane said today that Pakistan continues to "embrace terrorism and continues to use terror as state policy." "We reserve our right to respond at a time and place of our choosing with precision. It is a clear message we have sent across," the Army chief said on the Pakistan threat. "We have zero-tolerance for terror," he added. General Naravane said the forces are "ready to meet any eventuality". "We have maintained a high state of alertness all along the northern borders. We are hoping for a peaceful solution but are ready to meet any eventuality. All logistics are taken care of," the Army chief added on tensions along the Line of Actual Control(LAC) with China. Naravane said that eight round of talks has been conducted between India and China on the situation at the LAC with another round due to take place. Naravane said the Army faced two principal challenges namely COVID-19 and situation along India's northern borders involving China. "We are alert and ever ready to meet challenges," the Army chief asserted. "Pakistan and China together form a potent threat and the threat of collusivity cannot be wished away," he added. Naravane said a broad roadmap is being prepared to bring in all the new technologies to develop a technology-enabled Army to meet challenges of the future. On the Chinese activities, the Army chief said every year the PLA comes to traditional training areas which have been vacated. "They were in depth area of Tibet plateau with no reduction in friction area," he added.

Pakistan, China together form a potent threat, says Indian Army chief General Naravane

Indian Army Chief&nbsp;MM Naravane has ruled out any plans of sending troops on the ground in Afghanistan, reaffirming New Delhi's long-standing policy of "no boots on the ground". 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistan-china-together-form-a-potent-threat-says-indian-army-chief-general-naravane-356184">Also read | Pakistan, China together form a potent threat, says Indian Army chief General Naravane</a> 
 
In response to a question at his annual presser,&nbsp;General&nbsp;Naravane&nbsp;said, "as far as Afghanistan is concerned, there are no plans whatsoever to commit boots on the ground and neither do we envisage such a scenario developing in the near future". 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-china-standoff-as-winter-sets-over-lac-indias-army-chief-general-naravane-visits-eastern-ladakh-351819">Also read | India-China standoff: As winter sets over LAC, India's Army chief General Naravane visits eastern Ladakh</a> 
 
This is not the first time such statement has come from India. In 2017, the then Indian Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman ruled out Indian troops on the ground. At that time, the Trump administration was keen India sent its forces.&nbsp;&nbsp;

India has been Afghanistan's biggest development partner in the region.

From mega infrastructure projects like the India Afghanistan friendship dam to the Afghan parliament to capacity building, India has been providing the country support since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.&nbsp;

Both sides are soon expected to sign an agreement on the building of the Shatoot dam that will provide safe drinking water to 2 million residents of Kabul city.

Indian Army Chief MM Naravane has ruled out any plans of sending troops on the ground in Afghanistan, reaffirming New Delhi's long-standing policy of "no boots on the ground".

Indian Army Chief MM Naravane has ruled out any plans of sending troops on the ground in Afghanistan, reaffirming New Delhi's long-standing policy of "no boots on the ground". Also read | Pakistan, China together form a potent threat, says Indian Army chief General Naravane In response to a question at his annual presser, General Naravane said, "as far as Afghanistan is concerned, there are no plans whatsoever to commit boots on the ground and neither do we envisage such a scenario developing in the near future". Also read | India-China standoff: As winter sets over LAC, India's Army chief General Naravane visits eastern Ladakh This is not the first time such statement has come from India. In 2017, the then Indian Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman ruled out Indian troops on the ground. At that time, the Trump administration was keen India sent its forces. India has been Afghanistan's biggest development partner in the region. From mega infrastructure projects like the India Afghanistan friendship dam to the Afghan parliament to capacity building, India has been providing the country support since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. Both sides are soon expected to sign an agreement on the building of the Shatoot dam that will provide safe drinking water to 2 million residents of Kabul city.

Won't send boots on the ground in Afghanistan says Indian Army Chief Naravane