Pakistan has violated ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir 19 times since the new government took over in India, said members of the Indian Parliament on Tuesday, adding that the Indian side retaliated appropriately in each case. Speaking in Rajya Sabha, Indian Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said, “Our head has not bowed. This government will not let our heads bow.”
Jaitley’s response came after Indian Parliament Opposition Leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said that before assuming the office of prime minister, Indian PM Narendra Modi used to accuse the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) of assuming a “weak” stance against Pakistan. Azad had questioned why the “Modi government has bowed to the recurring ceasefire violations by Pakistan”.
The minister alleged that during the current year, till July 16, there have been 54 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir.
Between May 26 and July 17, 19 ceasefire violations took place along the LoC and IB and in all such cases, there was retaliation by the Indian side, the minister said.
“All ceasefire violations (CFVs) are taken up with the Pakistani authorities at the appropriate level through established mechanisms, including hotlines and flag meetings” he said.
Jaitley recalled that during the first meeting between Indian PM Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in New Delhi on May 27, he had underlined the importance of border ceasefire and upholding the sanctity of the LoC.
Jaitley said that the two premiers also agreed that foreign secretaries of the two countries would get in touch to explore how to take bilateral relations forward.
Last year, there were a total of 347 ceasefire violations in disputed Jammu and Kashmir, including 199 along the LoC.
In reply to another question, Jaitley said that the Indian Army has adopted a robust counter-infiltration strategy along the LoC in disputed Kashmir, which has an appropriate mix of technology and human resources to check infiltration effectively.
“Innovative troop deployment, efficient use of surveillance and monitoring devices and fencing along the LoC have enhanced the ability to detect and intercept infiltration,” said the Indian minister.
