Pakistan summons Indian envoy over embassy protest

ISLAMABAD, Aug: 7 – Pakistan summoned a senior Indian diplomat and asked him to ensure security of its diplomatic mission in New Delhi following a protest demonstration outside the Pakistani High Commission.

Indian media has reported that about a group of youth belonging to the Indian ruling Congress party Wednesday outside the Pakistan High Commission to protest the alleged killings of five Indian soldiers in the disputed Kashmir region.

Nearly 200 members climbed police barricades and raised anti-Pakistan slogans, Indian media quoted the Delhi police as saying.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry expressed concerns at the demonstration in front of its diplomatic mission and called for security.

“Some demonstrators gathered in front of our High Commission and Pakistan House (residence of the ambassador) in New Delhi today. The protesters raised slogans against Pakistan,” the Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

“We summoned Indian Deputy High Commission to the Foreign Office to stress that protection of Pakistan High Commission and Pakistan House is the responsibility of Indian government,” Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said in a statement.

He called for strengthening security of Pakistan representation in New Delhi.

Tensions between the two countries increased after the Indian defence officials said that Pakistani troops attacked an Indian post along the Line of Control in the Poonch sector in the disputed Kashmir region late Monday night, killing five Indian soldiers.

Pakistan military says that Indian troops fired on a post on Wednesday and critically injured two soldiers.

Top military commanders of Pakistan and India on Wednesday spoke on hotline to reduce tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) to reduce the tension.

The Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two countries established contact a day after Indian and Pakistan militaries accused each other of violation of a 2003 ceasefire by resorting to firing on posts.

Pakistan and India declared ceasefire along the LoC in 2003.

Guns had been relatively silenced since then however border troops some time trade fire. Both sides routinely accuse each other of violations.

The LoC escalations started in January this year when skirmishes between armies of two nuclear neighbors claimed lives of five troopers, two from India and three from Pakistan.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday Pakistan remains committed to the ceasefire agreement of 2003 which is an important Confidence Building Measure and should be respected in letter and spirit.

Pakistani, Indian military in hotline talk to reduce border tensions

Senior military commanders of Pakistan and India on Wednesday spoke on hotline to reduce tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) with the Pakistan Army reiterating to observe ceasefire strictly, the military sources said.

The Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two countries established contact a day after Indian and Pakistan militaries accused each other of violation of a 2003 ceasefire by resorting to firing on posts.

Indian defence officials earlier said that Pakistani troops attacked an Indian post along the Line of Control in the Poonch sector in the disputed Kashmir region late Monday night, killing five Indian soldiers.

Pakistan military says that Indian troops fired on a post on Wednesday and critically injured two soldiers.

“A special hotline contact was established this morning between the DGMOs of Pakistan and Indian army to discuss situation arising due to recent Indian allegations on the LoC,” Pakistani military sources said.

“Pakistan army DG MO strongly and categorically rejected Indian allegations of LoC violation by Pakistani troops and killing of five Indian soldiers at LoC in Poonch sector on night of 5/6 August,” the sources said.

They said Pakistan army also lodged a strong protest during special hotline contact for LoC violation by Indian troops in Pandu sector on Wednesday in which two Pakistani soldiers were seriously wounded.

“It was reiterated by Pakistani DGMO that Pakistan army abide by the ceasefire agreements existing between the two countries,” the military sources said.
The recent LoC firing again heightened tensions between the uneasy neighbours at a time when Pakistan’s new government is trying to improve relations with India and to resume the official dialogue.

Officials in the two countries say that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to meet his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September.

Pakistan said last week that it has proposed dates to India for resumption of the official dialogue and awaits Indian response.

Pakistan declared a unilateral ceasefire along the LoC in 2003 which was positively responded by India.

Guns had been relatively silenced since then however border troops some time trade fire. Both sides routinely accuse each other of violations.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman said Pakistan remains committed to the ceasefire agreement of 2003 which is an important Confidence Building Measure and should be respected in letter and spirit.

The LoC escalations started in January this year when skirmishes between armies of two nuclear neighbors claimed lives of five troopers, two from India and three from Pakistan.