After relative calm was restored on the International Border (IB) following a befitting reply to Pakistani guns by the Indian jawans, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said Pakistan has been taught a “befitting lesson” with the Indian Army “shutting their mouth.” At the same time, the Ministry of External Affairs said that for talks to take place guns have to fall silent.
Modi slammed the Congress for targeting him over his Government’s response to Pakistan’s aggression. “Congress is busy issuing statements over what is happening on the Pakistani border. This is not the time for empty ‘boli’ (talk) by them, but for ‘goli’ (bullet) by our jawans,” he said.Tough posturing by India against Pakistan’s ‘aggressive’ rhetoric and deliberate attempts to escalate the border tension on Thursday forced Pakistan Rangers to maintain relative peace on the border.
Four Indian border posts came on the radar of Pakistan Rangers in Hiranagar sector for about 20 minutes, but overall, peace prevailed along the border with no fresh incident of cross-border shelling or firing reported from anywhere across the Jammu frontier during the last 24 hours.
According to the BSF spokesman no fresh incident of cross-border firing was reported from RS Pura, Samba, Arnia, Kanachak and Pargwal sub-sectors of Jammu frontier in the last 24 hours. The MEA sought complete peace and tranquility along the IB and line of Control (loC) so that the civilian population could return to their homes. The MEA said that India will respond appropriately and according to the gesture from the other side of the border.
The MEA spokesperson said that for India-Pakistan talks to take place, Pakistan and its security forces first need to end ‘adventurism’ across the IB and loC.
“While we will not talk out of fear, we have no fear of talks,” said MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin while adding that Pakistan has been given befitting reply for its actions.
Claiming that for talks to take place guns have to fall silent, Akbaruddin said the new Indian Government was serious about bilateral dialogue in a peaceful atmosphere and blamed Pakistan for derailing the talks that would have paved the way for bilateral cooperation in several areas and resolving pending issues.
“We made it clear this will be in a peaceful atmosphere, without the shadow of terrorism. We have shown readiness to take the first step in engaging Pakistan in a peaceful manner. But what we got in return was a media spectacle before Foreign Secretary-level talks, hostile propaganda against India at the international level, continued terrorism and more recently violence against citizens on the international boundary. Therefore, we will respond appropriately. It is for Pakistan to either escalate or de-escalate tension. We will respond appropriately to their efforts in this regard,” said Akbaruddin.
On Pakistan alleging that it was India which started the ceasefire violations, Akbaruddin argued that these allegations were being made by “those who harboured Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin laden for over a decade at a military garrison town inside Pakistan while telling their western partners who provided them assistance and military aid that they were supporting the global war on counter-terrorism against Al-Qaeda.”
While Pakistan has sought intervention of United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), India has dismissed UNMOGIP’s interference in the matter saying there is no role for third parties.
Akbaruddin said the Simla Agreement and lahore Declaration provided a clear framework on how to resolve outstanding bilateral issues and there was no role for third party intervention.“UNMOGIP performs no practical function.... As far as we are concerned, the tools of a bygone era are not going to resolve issues that we confront today,” Akbaruddin said.
Meanwhile, Thursday night was relatively peaceful after Pakistan Rangers activated the entire length of the 192 km-long IB by targeting around 70 border posts and 100 forward villages with mortar shelling and heavy firing the previous night. Eight civilians have died and over 100 injured in the nine-day-long exchange of firing across the border. The silence of the guns brought a sense of relief among residents of border villages taking refuge in relief camps.
Reacting to the news of de-escalation of violence Prime Minister Modi said: “Pakistan has got a befitting lesson. They will not dare to repeat it again. Our jawans have shut their mouths.” He was speaking at an election campaign rally in Maharashtra.
The Prime Minister said border residents who had to leave their homes will be adequately compensated by the Centre.
Despite the sudden decline in the border firing the BSF jawans have been directed to remain in a state of high alertness to foil any infiltration attempts from across the border. The BSF jawans injured during the cross-border firing are eager to join their duties and be with their colleagues.
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