Pak summons envoy after 7 soldiers killed in firing

Pakistan on Monday said seven of its soldiers were killed in “unprovoked” firing by Indian troops across the Line of Control, prompting it to summon the Indian envoy here to warn that New Delhi’s “belligerent” attitude may lead to a “strategic miscalculation”.

Seven Pakistani soldiers were killed at the LoC in the Bhimber sector in a reported ceasefire violation by the Indian troops late on Sunday night, according to a statement by the Pakistan army.

Pakistani troops responded to “unprovoked” Indian firing and targeted Indian posts “effectively”, it said.Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry summoned Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale on Monday and condemned the “unprovoked ceasefire” violation by the Indian forces.

The foreign secretary deplored the increasing Indian ceasefire violations at the LoC and the working boundary, especially in the past two months. He emphasised that this “belligerent attitude” of the Indian forces was a “serious threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation”.

Chaudhry asked



the Indian high commissioner to convey to his government that it must stop the provocative firing and observe the ceasefire.Pakistan is pursuing a policy of restraint, which should not be construed as a sign of weakness, the statement quoted him as saying. He said the armed forces of Pakistan do not initiate fire, but will always respond in a befitting manner if fired upon, the statement said.

It is for the second time in a week that Pakistan has summoned the Indian envoy. Pakistan on November 10 had summoned Bambawale to the Foreign Office to protest the reported ceasefire violations and use of artillery by the Indian forces.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif asserted that his country was “fully capable” of defending its territory against “any aggression”.

Sharif expressed grief over the loss of lives in the “latest violation of the Line of Control by the Indian forces” and said “it is unfortunate that the Indian forces have continuously violated the ceasefire agreement at the LoC,” said Press Information Department, Pakistan.