Context: In what has come as a surprise development, the armies of India and Pakistan announced on Thursday that they had begun observing a ceasefire along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir from the midnight of February 24th. A joint statement issued by the militaries of both countries said the move followed a discussion between India’s Director General of Military Operations Lt Gen Paramjit Singh Sangha, and his Pakistani counterpart, Maj Gen Nauman Zakaria, over their established telephone hotline. The statement said:  In the interest of achieving mutually beneficial and sustainable peace along the borders, the two DGsMO agreed to address each other’s core issues and concerns which have the propensity to disturb peace and lead to violence. Further, both sides reiterated that existing mechanisms of hotline contact and border flag meetings will be utilised to resolve any unforeseen situation or misunderstanding. The United Nations and the United States have hailed the move by India and Pakistan, calling it a positive step towards greater peace and stability in South Asia.

Background

• India and Pakistan had agreed to a ceasefire on the LoC in November 2003.
• The ceasefire along the borders was first enforced on November 23, 2003, when the then Pakistan Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali announced the decision on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr and his then Indian counterpart late Atal Behari Vajpayee immediately reciprocated.
• Though the ceasefire was largely held over the years, it came under strain following the Pulwama attack in 2019 and India’s decision to scrap Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
• Troops from the two sides have regularly exchanged fire.

Key Points

• The countries have agreed to a strict observance of all agreements, understandings and cease firing along the Line of Control (LoC) and all other sectors with effect from the midnight of February 24-25, 2021.
• In the interest of achieving mutually beneficial and sustainable peace along the borders, the two Directors General of Military Operations agreed to address each other’s core issues and concerns which have the propensity to disturb peace and lead to violence.
• In addition, they would use existing mechanisms of hotlines and flag meetings to resolve any misunderstandings.
• As per the existing mechanism, there is a discussion by officials from the Military Operations directorate every Tuesday but the DGMOs speak only when one side requests for a conversation.
• Political parties in J&K welcomed the decision calling it a step in the right direction.
• They opine that, for the interest of mutually beneficial and sustainable peace in the entire region, India and Pakistan need to address the core concern of J&K in keeping with the aspirations of its people.

Role of Backchannel diplomacy

• Experts opine that backchannel diplomacy led to the talks and helped produce a joint statement between the two sides.
• Signs had come against the backdrop of India’s region-wide diplomacy regarding COVID-19, in which Pakistan had participated under the umbrella of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
• While Pakistan had shown reluctance in engaging in bilateral exchanges with India on the global pandemic, it supported Prime Minister Modi’s five proposals for collaboration at the South Asian level on containing the pandemic.
• Pakistan PM’s latest trip to Sri Lanka was one more instance of softening of attitudes.
• In comparison to the airspace denial that both countries had imposed on each other during and in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror strike, India this week allowed the aircraft carrying Pakistan PM’s passage.
• However, it is important to note that during these signs of backchannel talks, both sides have maintained their positions on Kashmir.

Road Ahead

• If the 2003 ceasefire is formalised with clear rules and regulations, demilitarized zones, neutral observers and joint commissions, it should reduce the chances of future ceasefire violations.
• However, the success of ceasefires in most conflict situations depends heavily on political will.

Additional Information
Line of Control

• There was no LoC before 1972 Shimla Agreement was signed between India and Pakistan. 
• It was the 1971 war between India and Pakistan over the question of Bangladesh that turned the ceasefire line into the Line of Control (LoC), as it is known today. 
• The Line of Control, thus drawn, gave Pakistan control over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, which Pakistan has since declared the Northern Areas and rules directly. 
• Rest of Jammu and Kashmir minus Aksai Chin is situated on the Indian side of Line of Control.
• The existing Line of Control runs from Manawar in Jammu to Indira Col on the tri-junction in Karakoram mountain range. 
• The Indian and Pakistani troops have to maintain a no-man's land of 500 yards on each side of the Line of Control.