Army orders instant retaliation to any Pak provocation, but says 'India does not want war'

India today accused Pakistan of committing three ceasefire violations after a Brigadier-level flag meeting between the two countries but said it will "not act in haste or anger".

The Indian Army along the LoC has been ordered to retaliate simultaneously on the spot to any ceasefire violations by Pak troops in future.

Disclosing this at Army's investiture ceremony at Akhnoor, Northern Army Commander, Lt General K T Parnaik said that the sacrifices of Hem Raj and Sudhakar Singh - the two Indian soldiers killed in Pakistani raid in Mendhar, will not go waste.

"I have ordered all the field commanders and jawans along the LoC to reply to any ceasefire violation by Pakistan then and there."

However, Gen Parnaik did not see any possibility of presently escalated situation along the LoC turning into a full fledged war between India and Pakistan.

"These are localised incidents," he said, adding that a war was not in the interests of Pakistan in view of its internal situation. India too did not want war with it, he added.

Parnaik described the beheading of an Indian soldier was not just a provocation but a "grave provocation" and said the country reserves its right to strike at the time and place of its choosing.

"After the flag meeting yesterday, Pakistan still remained adamant, arrogant and not ready to accept anything. We told them we will continue to respect ceasefire but not if we are provoked.

"...Pakistan is always on denial mode, it always fabricates things...Even after the brigadier-level flag meeting, there were three ceasefire violations," he said.

During the meeting, Parnaik said, Indian officer vehemently protested the beheading of an Indian soldier and also showed photographs of landmines placed by Pakistani troops on forward areas inside Indian territory.

"We accused them of carrying out the barbaric attack, we insisted that the head (of Lance Naik Hemraj) be returned. We drew their attention to the frequent firing in the area," he said.

... contd.

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