US welcomes India-Pakistan border pact: White House

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US welcomed an agreement Thursday by Indian and Pakistani militaries to observe a cease-fire agreement along a disputed border in Kashmir.

"The United States welcomes the joint statement between India and Pakistan that two countries have agreed to maintain strict observance of a ceasefire along the Line of Control starting on February 25th," said White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki.

The Line of Control is a de facto border that divides the disputed Himalayan region between the two countries that signed a cease-fire in 2003. Both countries have accused the other of violating the agreement.

India’s Home Ministry said Pakistan violated the deal 5,133 times in 2020, while Pakistan accuses Indian troops of violating the agreement more than 1,600 times last year.

Psaki said the agreement would contribute to greater peace in the region.

"This is a positive step towards greater peace and stability in South Asia which is in our shared interest and we encourage both countries to keep building upon this progress," said Psaki.

The directors-general of military operations of the two nuclear-armed South Asian neighbors held discussions via a hotline where they "agreed to address each other’s core issues and concerns which have the propensity to disturb the peace and lead to violence."