Army chief meets PM amid spike in ceasefire violations

Indian Army chief General Bikram Singh met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here Monday evening, official sources said. The meeting came in the backdrop of increased ceasefire violations by the Pakistan Army at the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The army chief met the prime minister. The meeting lasted for 15 minutes," an official in the Prime Minister's Office told IANS.

It is not immediately known what was discussed.

But sources said the army chief apprised the prime minister about the steps taken after five Indian soldiers were killed by Pakistani troops who crossed the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district Aug 6.

The meeting also comes after Defence Minister A.K. Antony said in the Rajya Sabha the army has mobilised all its resources to effectively retaliate to any ceasefire violation by Pakistan.

Antony said the government was taking the Aug 6 killing of five Indian soldiers "very very seriously" and that the armed forces would take every step to protect the sanctity of the LoC.

"Now the army (is) taking all possible steps, sometimes strong action, to effectively retaliate every violation on the LoC. The army has mobilised all its resources to effectively retaliate any violation," Antony said.

"Our forces, specially the army, will take every step to protect the sanctity of the LoC," Antony said.

In his statement, the defence minister said that the killing of five Indian soldiers "will have consequences on our behaviour on the Line of Control and for our relations with Pakistan".

Antony said his statement reflected the views of the government. He said ceasefire violations happen every year but their frequency has caused concerns.

"This time (what) worried us more is the frequency," he said.

Antony said there had been 24 ceasefire violations between Aug 6 and 6 a.m. Monday (Aug 19).

"Our restraint should not be taken for granted, nor should the capacity of our armed forces and resolve of the government to uphold the sanctity of the LoC ever be doubted," he said.