Pak summons envoy, rejects claim of strike

Islamabad: Pakistan on Tuesday summoned India’s acting deputy high commissioner J.P. Singh to protest “unprovoked” firing by the Indian Army that killed its three soldiers and “categorically rejected” claims that Indian commandos crossed the LoC to carry out a daring operation.

In a statement, the foreign office said the Indian actions “got a befitting response from the Pakistani side and their guns were silenced.”

It categorically rejected India’s claims that the Indian Army commandos crossed the LoC in Poonch sector of J&K and smashed a Pakistani post. “The false claims by India about the alleged cross LoC adventures are a figment of their imagination and counter-productive for peace and tranquillity on the LoC,” it said. The statement said director general (South Asia & Saarc) Mohammad Faisal summoned Mr Singh and “condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations” by Indian forces in the Rakhchikri sector.

The firing “provided a cover for the planting of IEDs by non-state actors”, resulting in the death of three soldiers, it said.

Mr Faisal urged the Indian side to “respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement; investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC.”