India summons Pak envoy, lodges protest on border crisis

According to sources, Pak Deputy High Commissioner in New Delhi Mansoor Ahmed Khan was summoned to South Block, which houses the Foreign Ministry.

It has been learnt that, India lodged a strong protest over the ceasefire violation.

He was told that “unprovoked firing from across the border that also continues to target civilians” must stop, media reported.

India, in fact, has taken up with Pakistan the ceasefire violation more than once in the past week as part of the “diplomatic initiatives” to end the impasse.

It came hours after Pakistan targeted 60 Indian posts near the 200-km International Border in Jammu and Kashmir with firing and shelling that left eight, including five civilians, injured last night.

But Pakistan, as sources said, maintained that it was India who started the provocation—a charge rejected by the Indian authorities.

In fact, Pakistan on Monday had called in India’s deputy high commissioner JP Singh to lodge a protest over the ceasefire violation by India.

Islamabad then raised the pitch further by lodging a protest with the UN Military Observer Group (UNMOGIP) over what it termed as India’s “aggression.”

On Thursday Jaitley gave a befitting reply to Pak envoy by saying, "India is never an aggressor, it is a responsible state, but it has a paramount duty to protect its people.”

Apart from applying pressure via diplomatic channel by summoning Pak envoy, New Delhi again on Thursday warned Islamabad by saying that adventurism of Pakistan along the Jammu and Kashmir border by unprovoked firing and shelling will cost it dearly.

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said, "India is a responsible country which does not attack first. Pakistan provokes and attacks but India has also a responsibility to protect its land and its people. So the Army and BSF are taking all measures and it will do what it takes to stop it.”

"Pakistan should understand that this type of attacks' response will be heavy on them. If they move forward with this adventurism it will be dear for Pakistan," said Jaitley.

Army sources said, nearly 700 militants are waiting to cross into the Kashmir Valley from across the border.

Citing this report, Defence Minister said, "Firing is a cover for infiltration."

He said, "There is a connection between firing and infiltration. "It is also an effort by Pakistan to precipitate tension where none existed."

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also like Jaitley attacked Pakistan by saying, “PM monitoring India-Pakistan border situation closely, we won't let the nation down.”

In his first remarks on the ongoing border crisis with Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said, "Everything will be fine soon."

PM on Wednesday has already given “free-hand” to Armed forces to respornd to Pak aggression.

He, as been reported, had given "broad guidelines" to a team led by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to handle the crisis.

According to media reports, Pakistan on Thursday reacted sharply to Jaitley’s comments.

A foreign official of Pakistan told Times Now that Pakistan will retaliate too. 

"We are capable of retaliating too," she told the channel. Pakistan PM Advisor told CNN-IBN that there has been unprovoked firing from India's side for several days.

"Pakistan is for peace and wants India to understand that," he added.

It has been learnt that, PM Modi talked separately with Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag and Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, who is also the Chairman of Chief of Staffs Committee (CSC) to take stock of the situation.

According to sources, The BSF has given a detailed report of the situation to the ministry of external affairs to diplomatically take up the issue with Pakistan.

BSF chief DK Pathak met Union home minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval on Thursday to give an account of the situation on the ground.

The high-level meeting was attended by home secretary Anil Goswami, Intelligence Bureau chief Syed Ibrahim and BSF representatives.

The three Service chiefs also met defence minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday.

Sources say Indian forces have been told to reject any offer of talks at the border until all firing across the International Border and the 700-km Line of Control - the de facto border - stops.

India on Wednesday cancelled the proposed Flag Meeting between the two armies.

The decision was taken on Wednesday after Pakistan resorted to “unprovoked” firing on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning in the Samba region of Jammu & Kashmir.

Before that, Senior military officials of India and Pakistan talked over the hotline on Tuesday.

Army sources said, the eight-minute phone conversation between officers of the Directorate-General of Military Operations (DGMO) of India and Pakistan ended with brigadiers from both sides trading accusations.

This week has seen the worst violence in over a decade at the border in Kashmir.

Eight civilians have died in India; more than 50 have been injured. More than 20,000 villagers have fled their homes near the border to escape the shelling that has damaged houses.

The violence this week is among the worst since both countries agreed to a ceasefire along the Line of Control in 2003.

Pakistan Targeted 60 Indian Posts and three dozen villages near the 200-km International Border in Jammu and Kashmir with heavy mortar shelling and firing.

India retaliated by targeting 73 Pak posts with mortars and small arms.

Intelligence sources said India hit back by pounding 37 Pakistani posts that left about 15 dead and damaged several Pakistan Rangers outposts.

“Our troops at all the places gave a strong and befitting reply to firing from Pakistan,” a BSF spokesperson said.