India summons Pak high commissioner over LoC violations

India on Sunday summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit to convey “anger” over a spate of ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC) since August 8. The development assumes significance as it comes days before the proposed meeting between the national security advisors (NSAs) of India and Pakistan.

India was particularly miffed at the incidents in Poonch over the past two days in which some civilians living in the LoC region were killed. Basit was summoned by  acting foreign secretary and secretary (east) Anil Wadhwa, who conveyed the government’s anger “at the unprovoked firing by Pakistani troops since August 8, particularly with regard to the incidents of yesterday (Saturday) and today (Sunday) in Poonch that saw the systematic targeting of our civilian populations and the use of high caliber weapons including artillery,” the ministry of external affairs said.

Wadhwa also told Basit the Pakistan government should take steps to ensure its military does not undermine peace and tranquillity.

According to sources, Basit in his defence said there had been 70 ceasefire violations from the Indian side of the LoC in two months. He apparently told Wadhwa “it would be helpful to have a more effective mechanism in place to determine which side indulged in unprovoked firing”. India had stated the issue had been raised several times at the level of Director General of Military Operations and assurances were also received from Pakistan military authorities that firing would stop and troops would be instructed accordingly. Despite this, firing continued unabated, India said.

However, there were no talks of deferring or canceling the NSA-level talks. The NSAs of the two nuclear-armed neighbours, Ajit Doval of India and Sartaj Aziz of Pakistan, are expected to meet here on August 23 and 24. The two are expected to lay a roadmap on an early resolution of the outstanding issues between the two countries. Both sides have prepared their own terrorism dossiers, sources told Business Standard.

In his Independence Day remarks, Basit had said his country would not “abandon” the Kashmiris and their “legitimate struggle for freedom”. According to him, the resolution of the Kashmir dispute is essential for India and Pakistan to have a normal bilateral relationship. “Aspirations of the people of Jammu & Kashmir could neither be ignored nor put on the back burner. No matter how much more time their legitimate struggle takes, Pakistan will never abandon Kashmiris and their cause.”

The NSA-level talks were decided by Modi and Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif during their second bilateral meeting in Ufa, Russia.