Pakistan Army Chief warns India ahead of Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar's visit

Islamabad: Pakistan's powerful army chief General Raheel Sharif has warned India of a "befitting response" to alleged provocation along the Line of Control (LoC), just days before the arrival of Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar in Islamabad.

"Repeated Indian ceasefire violations on the Working Boundary and the LoC in recent past was a distraction for Pakistan from campaign versus terrorism and it affects regional stability," a statement issued by the military quoted Sahrif as saying on Thursday.

"Let there be no doubt that any provocation along LoC and Working Boundary will meet a befitting response," the statement said.

Military spokesman Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa said that the army chief visited areas affected by recent Indian firing near Sialkot and met troops and local residents.

"Nation united in defence of motherland," Sharif said.

Pakistan and India have traded heavy fire in the area in recent months.

Jaishankar will arrive in Islamabad on a two-day visit on March 3, seven months after India cancelled foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan.

India broke off foreign secretary-level talks in August last at the eleventh hour because the Pakistan High Commissioner in New Delhi held consultations with Kashmiri separatists.