India, Pakistan trade barbs after cross-border fire

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI (AA) - India on Monday said its army reserved a right to “retaliate appropriately” against any incident of cease-fire violation along the de facto border that divides disputed Kashmir valley between India and Pakistan.

According to a statement issued by Indian army, the two countries’ director general of military operations (DGMO) held a telephone conversation on Monday.

The Indian DGMO, Lt. Gen. A.K. Bhatt, told his Pakistani counterpart that India is “sincere in its effort of maintaining peace and tranquility” along the Line of Control (LoC) provided there was reciprocity, it said.

The statement came a day after four Pakistani soldiers were killed in alleged cross-border fire, while an Indian soldier and a nine-year-old girl were also killed on Indian side.

The Indian DGMO alleged all cease-fire violations were initiated by Pakistan army and Indian army only responded to them.

Pakistani DGMO Maj. Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza, for his part, accused Indian border forces of deliberately targeting Pakistani troops and civilians.

According to a statement issued by Pakistan army, the Indian side was conveyed that “deliberate” targeting of Pakistan army vehicle, which resulted in death of four soldiers, “can potentially spiral major standoffs”.

“Such acts have the potential to escalate which then will be extremely detrimental to peace and stability”, he noted and warned: “While we don’t want to go down the path where we start choking each other’s supply lines; however, any such recurrence will invoke more strong and effective measures from Pakistan’s side.”

Kashmir, a Muslim-majority Himalayan region, is held by India and Pakistan in parts and claimed by both in full. A small sliver of Kashmir is also held by China.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars -- in 1948, 1965 and 1971 -- since they were partitioned in 1947, two of which were fought over Kashmir. Kashmiri resistance groups in Jammu and Kashmir have been fighting against Indian rule for independence, or for unification with neighboring Pakistan.

More than 70,000 people have reportedly been killed in the conflict since 1989. India maintains more than half a million troops in the disputed region.

*Anadolu Agency correspondent Aamir Latif contributed to this report from Karachi, Pakistan.