New Delhi: Amid heightened tension along their border resulting in casualties on both sides, India on Thursday said it is committed to peace with Pakistan but would respond to unprovoked firing at the border and would not let its guard down.
The comments came after a series of ceasefire violations ‘disconcerted’ India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in a meeting in Ufa, Russia agreed to discuss ways and means to expedite the Mumbai case trial (in Pakistan), including additional information like providing voice samples.
But, all went in vain when Pakistan back tracked and Lakhvi’s lawyer said that Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi will not give his voice samples.
Speaking to the media after a top level meeting which included Home Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Jaishankar made it clear that India will retaliate if Pakistani forces continue unprovoked firing on the Line of Control (LoC).
Jaishankar also said the drone brought down by Pakistan does not belong to India. “The drone appears to be of Chinese design and is commercially available. Photograph of drone in question shows it is not of Indian design or available in the inventory of the Indian Armed forces.”
Replying to a question whether Pakistan’s recent ceasefire violations will create any hurdle in the proposed NSA-level talks, which was agreed upon by the two sides in Ufa, Jaishankar said, “India is committed to the spirit of Ufa. Dates of NSA-level talks have not been finalised yet, so the question of it being postponed doesn’t arise.â€
Jaishankar told reporters that there was an infiltration attempt in Jammu sector by Pakistani militants on Thursday at 1:35 am and he has asked the Indian envoy in Islamabad to speak with Pakistan foreign secretary over it.
Earlier, the union ministers held a meeting in New Delhi to discuss the security scenario in the wake of recent ceasefire violations by Pakistan on the Line of Control (LoC).
According to a leading news channel, the government is planning a multi-pronged approach to take on Pakistan following a warning by intelligence agencies of more attacks on Border Security Force (BSF) posts on the border.
Meanwhile, at least five civilians were killed as India and Pakistan exchanged fire in the disputed Kashmir region. Pakistan accused India of unprovoked firing in which four civilians died and five others were injured.
India said one woman was killed and three other civilians wounded in firing by Pakistani soldiers.
Pakistan’s army also said it shot down an Indian spy drone in Kashmir.
The incidents also come days after Modi accepted an invitation from Sharif to attend SAARC summit in Islamabad next year, signalling a new thaw in a strained relationship. This will be Modi’s first visit to Pakistan after he took power last year.
(With inputs from agencies)