India wants to engage Pakistan in 'low-intensity war': Asif

Pak Defence Minister Khawaja Asif appeared to threaten India with retaliation over killing of Pakistani soldiers in cross-border firing

Amid a war of words between India and Pakistan over cross-border firing, Pakistan's Defence Minister has alleged that India wants to keep his country busy in a "low-intensity war".

"India wants to keep us busy in a low-intensity war or low-intensity engagement on our eastern border. They are pursuing the same tactics of keeping our forces busy on all fronts...," Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told reporters outside the Parliament yesterday.

Asif also appeared to threaten India with retaliation over the killing of Pakistani soldiers in cross-border firing, saying the country will now "communicate in the language they understand".

"In the past six-seven months, we have tried to better our ties with India so that peace can prevail. But it seems that they do not understand this language," Asif said.

"I believe, we will now communicate with India in the language they understand," he said.

Asif's remarks came after four Pakistani rangers were killed in BSF's strong retaliation after a jawan of the force lost his life in heavy firing from the other side on a patrol on December 31 along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district.

"Day before yesterday's incident has been taken up at every level from the army's side. The issue was taken up at the very location of firing, then we established contact from one post to the other," Asif said.

"After that we took up the issue at the level of rangers and BSF, than at the DGMO level, we also explored the diplomatic channel. We have taken up the issue at every possible level," he said.

Asif made the remarks also in response to the alleged killing of a 13-year-old Pakistani girl from Sialkot in cross-border firing yesterday.