Background:
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India and Pakistan had agreed to a ceasefire on the LoC in November 2003.
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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.
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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.
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Troops from the two sides have regularly exchanged fire.
Cease Fire Announced:
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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.
Role of Backchannel diplomacy:
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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).
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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.
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Pakistan PM’s latest trip to Sri Lanka where India allowed aircraft carrying Pakistan PM.
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However, it is important to note that during these signs of backchannel talks, both sides have maintained their positions on Kashmir.
Conclusion:
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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.
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However, the success of ceasefires in most conflict situations depends heavily on political will.