Terming ceasefire violations by Pakistan in the last few weeks as “serious and provocative,” Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said here on Saturday these actions created an environment “not very conducive” for relationship between the two sides.

Making this observation on a day when an Indian Army jawan died while battling militants in Kupwara in Kashmir, Jaitley said in response to a question about spate of violations, “incursions (ceasefire violations) at both the line of Control and the International Border are serious and they are provocative...These incidents are creating an environment which is not very conducive for relationship between the two countries.”

He said there was hope that the “situation would be better” after discussions between the Directors General of Military Operations(DGMO) lt Gen PR Kumar and his Pakistani counterpart Major General Sarfaraz Chaudhary on the hotline last week.

 The two countries decided to hold flag meetings to bring down tension on the Border during the talks.  Jaitley also said the Army and the BSF at the loC and International Border respectively are alert and responding effectively to every situation emerging there.

Against the backdrop of frequent ceasefire violations and Pakistan High Commissioner’s meeting with separatist Kashmiri leaders, India had called off the Foreign Secretary-level talks with it scheduled for August 25.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday laid ground rules for future talks saying that “any meaningful bilateral dialogue necessarily requires an environment that is free from terrorism and violence.”

There were 24 ceasefire violations by Pakistan in August in which two villagers were killed and 17 others, including four BSF jawans suffered injuries in such incidents.