J-K units of Cong, BJP condemn killing of BSF personnel in cross-border firing

The Jammu and Kashmir units of the BJP and the Congress today condemned the killing of four BSF personnel in cross-border firing in the state with the later alleging that the Modi government lacked a policy on Pakistan.

Four Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, including an assistant commandant-rank officer, were killed and three others injured in firing by Pakistan Rangers along the International Border in the state's Samba district.

"Pakistan is a country of traitors and the treacherous. It once again stabbed us in the back under the cover of darkness," BJP state president Ravinder Raina said, warning the "enemy" of stern action.

He said that Pakistan cannot be trusted and "it is an enemy nation that will be given a response".

The Congress alleged the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre had failed to silence Pakistan and maintain peace at the borders.

Pakistan's repeated treacherous acts during the holy month of Ramzan shows that it is taking advantage of the lack of a clear policy of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to deal with it effectively and in an appropriate manner, state Congress chief G A Mir said.

There has been a record number of ceasefire violations during the last four years and a large number of casualties among security personnel and civilians, he said.

This is a glaring example of the Modi government's failure to deal with Pakistan, the Congress leader said in a statement here.

"There is lot of anger among border residents and genuine concern of all country men over the unabated Pakistani shelling and heavy casualties on the Indian side.

"The NDA government is answerable to the nation for its failure to handle Pakistan and deal with it in an appropriate manner so that the bloodshed and causalities of our jawans and civilians can be stopped," Mir said.

Pakistan has time and again resorted to treacherous acts of ceasefire violations, despite commitments at the DGMOs level and announcement of observing the 2003 ceasefire agreement, he said, condemning today's killing of the BSF personnel.

"Pakistan's cowardly acts need to be condemned in the strongest possible words," Mir said.