| Font Size |
There are also reports of a troop build-up on both sides of the border.
Pakistan has so far not responded to requests from India and its army for a flag meeting at the brigade level to de-escalate tension along the LoC.
Indian intelligence intercepts reveal that the Pakistani Army has cancelled all leaves and ordered its troops to report for duty.
According to sources, Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma and the three service chiefs are likely to brief Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Saturday on the latest situation prevailing along the LoC.
The Indian side has been bolstered with the presence of additional Border Action Task Force personnel. Surveillance has been heightened with both the Army and Air Force deploying unmanned aerial vehicles in areas over Poonch and Rajouri sectors.
Sources said Pakistani troops fired intermittently at eight Indian border posts on the LoC in Krishna Ghati and Sonagali around Mendhar sector and Poonch on Friday.
The firing lasted for 20 minutes.
On Friday, India confirmed that Pakistan has suspended cross-border trade.
“As per our understanding, because of some circumstances in one sector, neither trucks nor buses could go,” said Syed Akbaruddin, a spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs.
Also, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani summoned India’s High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal to protest against “repeated”, “unacceptable” and “unprovoked” attacks by the Indian Army which led to the death of a Pakistani soldier on Thursday.
Jilani asked India to “investigate violations of ceasefire by Indian troops” and “emphasised that such unprovoked attacks were against the spirit of the ongoing peace process”.
Sabharwal said India’s troops undertook “controlled retaliation” in the face of “unprovoked firing”.
Akbaruddin emphasised on the sanctity of the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, established after the Shimla agreement of 1972, and said this was the most important confidence-building measure between India and Pakistan.
Pakistan also reiterated its demand for a United Nations Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) probe, but India maintains that that following the Shimla agreement in 1972 and the establishment of the LoC, the UNMOGIP has no relevance or role to play whatsoever.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has also been briefed on the tense border situation by National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon.
Related stories
Govt should harden its stand, says V K Singh
BJP asks govt to recall Indian envoy from Pak to register strong protest
Amassing troops at the border will do nothing. Both the armies will wait indefinitely for orders.Indian Army should be fast enough to teach a lesson to Pakistan army so that they think twice before committing errors and blunders. Our brave Army personnel should be saluted and encouraged.
v k singh should given the of defence minister
Why flag meeting? We should scrap all ties with Porkistan and do likewhat Israeldoingwithother.
After Bin laden's episode, Pakistan Army top leaders were in hiding. They were looking forward to come back to limelight. LOC problems is part of the game to come back to important discussion table in international forum because this makes them important in international diplomacy. Within Pakistan, they can arm twist the civilian government. For International attention they need India as banner in their acts and deed. This is what they are up to. ISI is using their tools and puppets to execute their game plan. Sad part is why India's government lacks stature and power to convey fitting message. Why India's is not able to use its economic and market power to bring world power on its side. Something is missing somewhere in thinking process in Indian's establishment. May be problems due to in-breeding and using old and outdated advisers are the reasons in Indian strategic thinking. They will not leave the chair of comfort post. They should be forced to quit and bring out-of box thinking.
Everything is possible Mr Sardana. But are we puppets to play their calling? Kashmir is not a mindset but a sign of out failing to administer it. Revoke the special status of Kashmir. Thinking is never outdated; it is actions that are outdated!
