Pakistan on Friday said it is "disappointed" that progress has not been made on ending ceasefire violations on the LoC despite a meeting between Pakistani and Indian Prime Ministers.
Disputing allegations that Pakistan is indulging in unprovoked firing, Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Chaudhry said, "We are also disappointed that progress has not been made despite the meeting of two Prime Ministers." He alleged that while Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was in the US, Indian troops targeted 27 Pakistani posts along the LoC and international border.
"Even the timing was so unfortunate. (It happened) when our Prime Minister was in US ready to meet American President," he said. Chaudhry was responding to a question at his weekly press briefing about Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's remarks that he was disappointed with Sharif while asking him "even at this late hour" to recognise that what was happening on the LoC and international border is not good for the two nations.
"We have absolutely no interest in agitating at LoC. Why would we do that at a time when our PM is visiting US. So we also believe that decision of the two Prime Ministers must be implemented very quickly. The military officers must meet," Chaudhry said. Asked if he was hinting that India had deliberately increased tensions at the borders, he said, "It was an unprovoked firing on 27 of our posts which we feel is inappropriate."
He added, "That is not to say in anyway (we) detract from the wish and desire of our Prime Minister who has repeatedly said he wants neighbourly relations with India. "He wants to improve ties with India. But such things will also have to factored in and addressed by military officials (when they meet) so that the next phase of improving relations can begin. Our sincerity is very clear."
When asked about Pakistani troops' firing on Indian soldiers and civilians, he said, "Pakistani troops follow a policy of not indulging in firing first. They only retaliate when fired upon". Replying to further questions, he said Pakistan has been very clear and the present leadership has made it very clear that it wants good neighbourly relations with India.
"Sharif has gone to every length to send out positive signals. And we agree that the ceasefire violations at the LoC is a matter of great concern," Chaudhry said. "We believe that two Prime Ministers had agreed on a mechanism that DGMOs must meet immediately to resolve this matter," he said. Chaudhry said that despite all the tensions, Sharif has extended a hands of friendship stressing that "we need to talk to each other. We need to sit down and resolve these matters".
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