Pak warns of 'strategic miscalculation' after ceasefire violation kills 7 soldiers

Islamabad: Pakistan on Monday said seven of its soldiers were killed in "unprovoked" firing by Indian troops across the LoC, prompting it to summon the Indian envoy here to warn that India's "belligerent" attitude may lead to a "strategic miscalculation".

Seven Pakistani soldiers were killed at the LoC in the Bhimber sector in an alleged ceasefire violation by Indian troops late last night, according to a statement by the 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 this afternoon and condemned the "unprovoked ceasefire" violation by the Indian forces on the Line of Control (LoC).

The Foreign Secretary deplored the increasing Indian ceasefire violations at the LoC and the Working Boundary, especially in the last two months, a statement said.

He emphasised that this "belligerent attitude" of Indian forces was a "serious threat to the regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation", the statement added.

The Foreign Secretary 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 underlined that 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 Indian High Commissioner.

Pakistan on November 10 summoned Bambawale to the Foreign Office to protest over alleged ceasefire violations and use of artillery by the Indian forces.

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

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

"We are fully capable of defending our soil against any aggression," it quoted Sharif as saying.

The Prime Minister also claimed that the Indian forces have resorted to escalating tension on the LoC only to "uselessly divert" the world's attention from the "grave human rights situation" in Kashmir.

Army chief General Raheel Sharif ordered troops to "effectively" respond to firing by India.

Raheel said that army "will continue to respond effectively" and it ordered that it should "leave no stone unturned to defend motherland".

Pakistan's Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz also condemned the "unprovoked Indian firing" on the LoC, Foreign Office (FO) said

"He (Aziz) expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed," it said, adding that Aziz expressed grave concern over the recently increased frequency and duration of indiscriminate firing/shelling "from the Indian side, deliberately targeting villages and civilian populated areas".

The Foreign Office said that Pakistan is urging the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to send an urgent report to the UN Security Council to inform them about the serious ceasefire violations on the LoC and the unwarranted escalation of tension between the two countries.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, responding to the latest development along the shared Pak-India border, claimed that India was heating up the situation along the LoC and Working Boundary due to internal compulsions, Radio Pakistan reported.

The defence minister said it was regrettable that "certain extremist elements which had come into power in India could become a source of destruction not only for their own country but the whole region".

Asif urged the global community to take notice of "Indian provocations against Pakistan" as any escalation of tension between the two nuclear armed neighbours could prove catastrophic for the whole region.

He added that Pakistan is using diplomatic and international forums to highlight Indian "belligerence".

So far, mostly civilian have been killed in the firing on Pakistani side of the LoC.

Pakistan Foreign Office last week said that the civilian death toll from alleged Indian shelling has risen to at least 25 in the past few weeks.