Government gives armed forces "free hand" to deal with Pakistan

Reacting sharply to the opposition parties’ criticism that Prime Minister is being pre-occupied with upcoming elections, rather that solving border tension, the Centre on Wednesday made it clear that Modi has given the forces “free hand” to deal with Pakistan crisis.

According to reports received, Government sources have said that PM gave broad guidelines on responding appropriately to Pakistan firing.

Forces given free hand to deal with the situation, it said.

The Centre has supposedly said that it will not be forced into dialogue under duress.

Sources in the government tell NDTV that the PM "has left the management of the crisis to his team led by the National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval after indicating broad guidelines about not succumbing to any blackmail and responding appropriately."

If media reports are to be believed, the Centre’s response came against the backdrop of attack by several opposition parties who questioned PM’s silence on Pakistan’s provocative approach along the Line of Control (LOC) and International Border (IB).

In the past few days, Pak forces resorted to repeated ceasefire violations, killing innocent civilians and Indian armed forces personnel, who guard the border, prompting the opposition parties attack the policy of Centre.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s former ally Shiv Sena in Maharashtra has advised Prime Minister Narendra Modi to focus on the firing from Pakistani side along the border in Jammu and Kashmir instead of poll-bound states.

In their party mouthpiece Saamna on Wednesday, the Sena asked Modi to concentrate on Maharashtra politics later and instead focus on the border tension and attacks from Pakistan.

Sena said whether Modi- who had boasted of a 56-inch chest- can effectively ward off Pakistani attack is a matter of debate now as body count is rising.

"Are we going to give Pakistan a befitting reply or just count the bodies of our soldiers? You can indulge in Maharashtra politics later on as well PM Modi, right now it is important to focus on what's happening at the border," the Sena said in this morning's edition of its mouthpiece, the Saamna.

"Can you imagine a Prime Minister holding 23 rallies for the Maharashtra assembly polls? Why is he so focused on Maharashtra?" Raj Thackeray, chief of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS)was quoted as saying by a newspaper.

Similarly Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar tweeted, "How does PM get so much time! He could have used this time for welfare of farmers and people."

On the other hand Congress also joined the bandwagon and laid a scathing attack on Modi, who is busy for poll campaign for upcoming Assembly elections.

The Prime Minister has been holding multiple rallies every day in Haryana and Maharashtra, which vote on October 15.

Criticizing sharply to this, on Wednesday Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi said, “PM saying nothing on Pakistan's repeated ceasefire violations.”

Another Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed said, "It is unfortunate that civilians are being killed. But our Prime Minister is neither tweeting about it nor mentioning it in his election speeches now. Why is he silent?"

As a matter of fact, this week has seen the maximum civilian casualties in Kashmir since India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire in 2003.

On Oct 2, Pakistani troops had violated the ceasefire twice along the LoC in Poonch district resulting in injuries to six persons.

The worst ceasefire violation occurred on Oct 5 when two ceasefire violations in the Arnia belt along International Border in Jammu and Balnoie sub-sector of Poonch resulted in the death of five persons and injuring 34 others.

On October 6, Pakistan had violated the ceasefire thrice in Bhimber Gali, Kerni and Balakote-Mankote in Poonch district of Jammu region.

It is noteworthy to mention that, Pakistan recent provocation, which escalated this month, happens to be the worst since 2003.

India has lost at least seven civilians since Monday night; more than 30 have been injured with Pakistan's military firing machine guns and mortars at dozens of Indian army posts and villages.

India has retaliated aggressively; the government has told the Army that no talks are to be held with Pakistani commanders till the firing ends entirely.

India has also warned that it is willing to escalate its action.

It has been learnt that, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley met the three service chiefs on Wednesday soon after Pak forces violated ceasefire again killing an elderly woman in Jammu & Kashmir and injuring several, including 20 Border Security Force (BSF) personnel.

India decided to cancel the Flag-Meeting, that was about to take place between two armies later in the day. 

Media reported that the army, air force and navy chiefs are understood to have discussed with Mr Jaitley the prevailing security situation, defence officials said in New Delhi.