Foreign Ministry rejects Indian allegations of killing of its soldiers

Pakistan Foreign Ministry Tuesday rejected as “baseless and unfounded allegations” by Indian military that Pakistani forces have attacked its post and killed five Indian soldiers in the disputed Kashmir region.

Indian defence officials earlier said that Pakistani troops attacked an Indian post along the Line of Control in the Poonch sector in the disputed Kashmir region late Monday night, killing five Indian soldiers.

“Our military authorities have confirmed that there had been no exchange of fire that could have resulted in such an incident,” the Foreign Ministry said.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman said Pakistan remains committed to the ceasefire agreement of 2003 which is an important Confidence Building Measure and should be respected in letter and spirit.

“Pakistan also urges the need for abiding by and strengthening existing military mechanisms to ensure that such ill-founded reports that have the potential of vitiating the atmosphere, are avoided,” he said in a statement.

“Pakistan is committed to a constructive, sustained and result-oriented process of engagement with India and looks forward to an early resumption of the dialogue process.”

The spokesman said it is important that both sides make serious efforts in maintaining the positive atmosphere and avoid negative propaganda.

Indian media quoted defence sources as saying on Tuesday said the Pakistani soldiers intruded into the Indian part of Kashmir midnight and ambushed the Sarla post on the Indian side of the LoC, which divides Pakistan and India in Kashmir.

Pakistan declared a unilateral ceasefire along the LoC in 2003 which was positively responded by India.

Guns had been relatively silenced since then however border troops some time trade fire. Both sides routinely accuse each other of violations.

The LoC escalations started in January this year when skirmishes between armies of two nuclear neighbors claimed lives of five troopers, two from India and three from Pakistan.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from British in 1947, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.

The latest incident comes at a time when the new government in Pakistan is trying to normalise relations with India.

Officials say that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to meet his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September.

Pakistan said last week that it has proposed dates to India for resumption of the official dialogue and awaits Indian response.

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Posted by Tahir Khan on Aug 6 2013. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.