India calls for peace following ceasefire violations by Pakistan

India has said that peace and tranquillity on the border is of the highest importance to establish the preconditions for peaceful and normal relationship in wake of a ceasefire violation by the Pakistani army in Jammu and Kashmir.

As per an Indian defence report, Pakistan fired with semi automatic and automatic weapons at the Indian posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch and Rajouri Districts of Jammu and Kashmir, forcing the Indian Army to retaliate.

"On the firing, I would just like to reiterate that peace and tranquillity on the border is of the highest importance in establishing the preconditions for such a peaceful and normal relationship," said Foreign Secretary, Sujatha Singh at a media briefing in New Delhi.

This is the first such incident of violation after Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) became the ruling government.

The violation comes at a time when Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif came to India to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Modi following the latter's invitation to all the SAARC country leaders.

Modi and Sharif are keen to rebuild ties and diplomats say closer integration of Pakistan with India's giant economy could lay the ground for improving political relations.

"Our policy towards our neighbours has always been to work towards peaceful and cordial relations. So that is our overall objective and that is where saree (Indian drape), shawl and letter diplomacy fits in," added Singh.

Last year witnessed many ceasefire violations, infiltrations and gun battles along the border by Pakistan, which killed many of the Indian soldiers, infuriating the entire nation.

The two nuclear-armed countries have fought two wars over Kashmir but had sought to ease access and commerce in a region at the heart of more than 60 years of hostility.