The 2003 agreement between India and Pakistan exists only on paper in contemporary times given the volume of violations indulged amid claims and counterclaims about initiation by both the countries.

In the latest incidents, four Indian soldiers including a Junior Commissioned Officer were killed in Rajouri and Kupwara last week.

According to MHA data, 2952 ceasefire violations were witnessed until July 2020 and it left 15 civilians and eight army or BSF men dead on this side. Pakistan, on the other hand, has blamed the ceasefire on New Delhi and as per the country’s foreign office data, 2225 ceasefire violations occurred so far this year in which 18 people were killed while at least 176 civilians have been wounded.

These casualties are a natural extension of what has been unfolding along the International Boundary as well as the Line of Control for the past several months.

Now, as the two countries are caught in a spiral of almost daily exchanges of fire along the LoC, there is a danger of no return to the talks table which is dangerous for the regional peace. It is more so when the situation along LAC is edgy.

As per the statistics available, the last three years have seen increased violations since the ceasefire came into force.

Even thousands of civilians have been forced to flee their homes close to LoC on either side of it, resulting in enormous human sufferings. The psychological impact on the people from these hostilities is huge. There is constant fear and risk of being killed which adversely impacts mental wellbeing, particularly that of women, children, and the elderly. The continuous skirmishes can also be catastrophic for the region. All this makes need for the talks all more important to address the bitterness or at least reduce it to bare minimum levels. The peace on the LoC or the border is difficult to achieve at the tactical level by military leaders. Restoring the ceasefire requires real statesmanship, not brinkmanship.

The 2003 agreement was all but a triumph of diplomacy but in the last several years, both the countries have allowed drift which is widening with every day. It however can be arrested through high-level political intervention between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Both countries need to understand the futilities of the war and come to the table to address all issues between them.

From the last more than seven years, there have been several hiccups in setting up of the 850 MW Ratle Hydroelectric power project.
Last week, the Public Investment Board (PIB) recommended the developing of the project through a joint venture company of the JK Power Development Corporation and the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation.
The PIB, in the Union Ministry of Finance, has also recommended an investment approval for Rs 5,281.94 crore for the project, including an infusion of equity of Rs 808.14 crore by NHPC in the JVC, as per an official statement.
The equity contribution of JKPDC in the company pegged at Rs 776.44 crore will be provided as a grant from the Centre.
The recommendations of the PIB will pave the way for final approval of the project and an early beginning of work on the project.
Various works such as the construction of access roads and diversion tunnels were started in early 2013 but were stopped as various issues came up between the erstwhile State Government and the Company which had been awarded the contract.
The is always good that such an important project is going to be revived and if all goes well it may be completed in next three or four years.
The Rattle Power project is a clean and comparatively less complex project with all clearances in hand and as such would not have been difficult to be taken up exclusively in the local sector without involving any outside partner. In the past there was opposition to handing over the project to NHPC as regards economic growth and even political power of the J&K. Now that decision has been taken it’s hoped it will change the things for good across the J&K including district Kishtwar. The revival of the Ratle project is going to bestow Kishtwar the distinction of being the nerve centre of power generation J&K.
Also, the project means a step towards harnessing J&K’s hydropower potential which is estimated to over 20,000 MW. Hitherto 16,000 MW has been identified and a good deal of it remains to be harnessed. As such a lot needed to be done which should be aimed at empowering the J&K.
The government says that the Ratle project would lead to an additional 3000 MW availability to supplement the demand-supply position in J&K and boost the overall economy of the J&K. Hopefully the endeavor is realized as promised.