LOC Full Form

LoC's full form in the Army, the Line of Control, is a military control line between India and Pakistani controlled part of the formerly princely part of Jammu and Kashmir. It is a line that does not represent the legally recognized international boundary but acts as the de facto border. Originally the Line of Control was known as the cease-fire line, but now it is designated as LOC after the Simla agreement, which was signed on July 3, 1972.

Former US President Bill Clinton has referred to the Indian subcontinent and the Kashmir Line of Control as one of the most dangerous places in the world.

What is the Full Form of LoC?

Line of Control is the full form LoC. It is a 450 mile - long military control line that acts as a boundary dividing the India and Pakistan-governed parts of Kashmir into two. The region of the formerly princely state that is under Indian control is divided into Union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh while the region that was controlled by Pakistan is split into Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. The northern part of the Line of Control is known as the NJ9842. The India-Pakistan border makes headways into the southernmost point on the LoC.

LoC Background

After the division of British India, modern India and Pakistan combated the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir - India as a result of the ruler's accession to the county and Pakistan by the result of the state’s Muslim majority population. The first Kashmir war lasted more than a year when the UN mediation of Kashmir accepted the ceasefire. A ceasefire line in Kashmir was agreed upon by both sides.

After the Kashmir War in 1965 and the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971, only minor modifications affected the ceasefire. Both India and Pakistan after following the Simla agreement in 1972 agreed to convert the ceasefire line into a Line of Control and observed it as a de facto border that should not be destroyed by armed action.

Loc Fencing

India has constructed fencing along its side of the Line of Control. It is presently 550 Km (340 mi) long. The fencing that was constructed manages only part of the line of control, the rest of the LoC is also not accessible because of the construction of barriers. The purpose of fencing is to exclude arms smuggling and infiltration by Pakistani-based separate militants. Pakistan has objections to the construction of the barrier, saying it violated both bilateral accords and related United Nations Security Council resolutions on the regions.

LOC Legacy

The LOC long-form, Line of Control, closed the Jhelum valley route (the only entrance and exit of the Kashmir valley and Pakistani Punjab) by dividing Kashmir into two parts.  This terrestrial division which still exists severed many villagers and separated family members from each other.