Top military commanders of India and Pakistan on Wednesday agreed not to allow escalation of tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) with the Pakistan Army asking its troops to observe ceasefire strictly and exercise restraint.
The ways to defuse the tension on the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, which was triggered by the brutal killing of two Indian soldiers by the Pakistan Army, were discussed during a telephonic conversation between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two sides.
The Army here said the talks lasted for ten minutes starting 10 AM and during this there was also an understanding not to allow the situation to escalate.
Pakistan Army DGMO conveyed that orders have been passed to troops to strictly observe the ceasefire and exercise restraint, the Army Headquarters said.
Meanwhile, in Islamabad, the state-run Pakistan Radio claimed the country's DGMO lodged a strong protest with his Indian counterpart over killing of a Pakistani soldier.
Earlier in the day, Army chief Gen Bikram Singh rejected Pakistani allegations that Indian troops had crossed the LoC and indulged in unprovoked firing, saying any casualty on the other side may have been due to retaliatory firing.
‘Our jawans don't cross LoC. We honour human rights. We fire in retaliation when provoked,’ he said in Khairiar in Uttar Pradesh after meeting the family of Lance Naik Hemraj who was beheaded by Pakistani soldiers in a cross-LoC attack in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir on January 8.
Responding to the Pakistani charge that one of its soldiers was killed in ‘unprovoked firing’ along the LoC, the Army chief said it may have happened during cross-firing.
‘These are normal activities that take place at the LoC. We have retaliated in response to cross-firing,’ he said.
Replying to questions, Singh said ‘the relationship (between the two countries) is got to be seen on what has been going on at the border’.
The Pakistan Army had alleged Indian troops had violated the ceasefire along the LoC late last night and ‘carried out unprovoked firing’ in Hotspring and Jandrot sectors.
On the possibility of getting back the head of Hemraj, which was taken away by Pakistani soldiers, the Army chief said efforts are being made to get it back.
Singh, however, refused to respond to Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar's statement that the Indian Army chief's comments were ‘provocative’, saying he was yet to read the statement.
He met the family of Hemraj and offered his condolences. He assured them that all their requirements will be met.
Meanwhile, the three Services chiefs met to discuss issues including the construction of a national war memorial at India Gate and the setting up of a national defence university at Gurgaon near here.
‘UNDERMINING PEACE NOT CONDUCIVE FOR TRADE’
In a clear message that current strain could impact trade ties, India told Pakistan economic engagement can be enhanced in an environment of peace and stability and asserted ‘anything which undermines that environment is not conducive’ for economic relations.
Remarks by Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma came a day after PM Manmohan Singh's tough message to Pakistan that it cannot be ‘business as usual’ in the aftermath of the beheading of an Indian soldier on LoC last week.
Sharma's comments, ahead of the Annual Partnership Summit to be held in Agra from 27 Jan, also assume significance given the fact that no bilateral meeting is scheduled between him and his Pak counterpart Makhdoom Amin Fahim. ‘As of now, we have not given any consideration to this matter in a negative sense. (But) yes, what has happened is horrific, its unacceptable, highly provocative.
And this is for Pakistan to realise that where the well being of the economy of the country lies,’ Sharma said.
The economic engagement can be enhanced only in an environment of peace and stability and there was no other way forward for this region, he said and asserted that ‘anything which undermines that environment is not conducive’.
The ways to defuse the tension on the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, which was triggered by the brutal killing of two Indian soldiers by the Pakistan Army, were discussed during a telephonic conversation between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two sides.
The Army here said the talks lasted for ten minutes starting 10 AM and during this there was also an understanding not to allow the situation to escalate.
Pakistan Army DGMO conveyed that orders have been passed to troops to strictly observe the ceasefire and exercise restraint, the Army Headquarters said.
Meanwhile, in Islamabad, the state-run Pakistan Radio claimed the country's DGMO lodged a strong protest with his Indian counterpart over killing of a Pakistani soldier.
Earlier in the day, Army chief Gen Bikram Singh rejected Pakistani allegations that Indian troops had crossed the LoC and indulged in unprovoked firing, saying any casualty on the other side may have been due to retaliatory firing.
‘Our jawans don't cross LoC. We honour human rights. We fire in retaliation when provoked,’ he said in Khairiar in Uttar Pradesh after meeting the family of Lance Naik Hemraj who was beheaded by Pakistani soldiers in a cross-LoC attack in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir on January 8.
Responding to the Pakistani charge that one of its soldiers was killed in ‘unprovoked firing’ along the LoC, the Army chief said it may have happened during cross-firing.
‘These are normal activities that take place at the LoC. We have retaliated in response to cross-firing,’ he said.
Replying to questions, Singh said ‘the relationship (between the two countries) is got to be seen on what has been going on at the border’.
The Pakistan Army had alleged Indian troops had violated the ceasefire along the LoC late last night and ‘carried out unprovoked firing’ in Hotspring and Jandrot sectors.
On the possibility of getting back the head of Hemraj, which was taken away by Pakistani soldiers, the Army chief said efforts are being made to get it back.
Singh, however, refused to respond to Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar's statement that the Indian Army chief's comments were ‘provocative’, saying he was yet to read the statement.
He met the family of Hemraj and offered his condolences. He assured them that all their requirements will be met.
Meanwhile, the three Services chiefs met to discuss issues including the construction of a national war memorial at India Gate and the setting up of a national defence university at Gurgaon near here.
‘UNDERMINING PEACE NOT CONDUCIVE FOR TRADE’
In a clear message that current strain could impact trade ties, India told Pakistan economic engagement can be enhanced in an environment of peace and stability and asserted ‘anything which undermines that environment is not conducive’ for economic relations.
Remarks by Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma came a day after PM Manmohan Singh's tough message to Pakistan that it cannot be ‘business as usual’ in the aftermath of the beheading of an Indian soldier on LoC last week.
Sharma's comments, ahead of the Annual Partnership Summit to be held in Agra from 27 Jan, also assume significance given the fact that no bilateral meeting is scheduled between him and his Pak counterpart Makhdoom Amin Fahim. ‘As of now, we have not given any consideration to this matter in a negative sense. (But) yes, what has happened is horrific, its unacceptable, highly provocative.
And this is for Pakistan to realise that where the well being of the economy of the country lies,’ Sharma said.
The economic engagement can be enhanced only in an environment of peace and stability and there was no other way forward for this region, he said and asserted that ‘anything which undermines that environment is not conducive’.