India has not yet received any substantial response from Pakistan on the treatment meted out to the bodies of two soldiers who were killed by Pakistani troops near the Line of Control in Kashmir, Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid has told NDTV.
The minister emphasised that this was “unacceptable and must be explained” but added, “We are not going to be pressurised by wild calls for revenge and reaction.”
Khurshid said the situation demands a very “responsible, sensible and moderate behaviour” but added, “We shouldn’t really be lulled into believing that nothing went wrong.”
“We will do what is in the best interest of the country and peace,” he said.
When asked about the suspension of trade and the bus service, the FM told NDTV that the “decision is for them to take” and added that “fortunately that has not happened completely and everywhere and in many places the services continue”.
India has also said that if Pakistan targets its posts again, it would respond “appropriately”.
Separately, the Indian Army has asked the Pakistan Army for a flag meeting between rival brigade commanders along the Poonch Sector of the Line of Control, which continues to remain “hot” with yet another exchange of heavy fire taking place on Thursday night.
The major escalation in tension along the 778-km LoC figured in a high-level PMO review on Friday, with Indian Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma briefing national security advisor Shivshankar Menon about the stepped up ceasefire violations in recent days.
“The steps being taken by the Indian Army in response were also discussed. There has been no major exchange of firing since Thursday night. There were a few minor stray incidents on Friday,” said an official.
With this being the fifth time in the last 11 days that the ceasefire has been breached, Indian troops have stepped up their “alertness levels” along the entire LoC. “Patrols and sentries have been doubled snipers are also keeping a close eye on the posts across to take out any mischief-makers,” said an officer.
Another officer added, “We have asked the Pakistani army, over the hotline, for an immediate brigade-level flag meeting at Poonch-Rawlakot. We want to lodge another strong protest as well as discuss other issues during it. The other side is yet to respond.”
The Indian side at the flag meeting will be led by the 10 ‘Krishnaghati’ Brigade commander TS Sandhu, who has three battalions under him including the 13 Rajputana Rifles.
Indian media reports said the heavy fire-fight on Thursday night lasted over five hours in the Krishnaghati area, with Pakistan even firing four rounds of its heaviest 82mm mortar apart from heavy machine guns. India launched “retaliatory fire assaults” in response to Pakistani firing on nine Indian forward posts, the reports added.
The DGMO (director-general of military operations), Lt General Vinod Bhatia, has been asked to keep in touch with his Pakistani counterpart, and the government was “awaiting the outcome of their talks”, officials said.