NEW DELHI: Indian Army Chief Bikram Singh has said that Indian soldiers won’t remain quiet if the neighbouring country violated the ceasefire, Indian media reported.
Singh’s remarks come when Pakistan Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, accompanied by members of his family and other officials, is on a day-long visit to India, two months after ceasefire violations on the Line of Control that led to heightened tensions between the two neighbours.
Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid is scheduled to host a lunch in Jaipur for Prime Minister Ashraf but no “substantive” discussions are expected to take place.
However, Singh declined to comment on Pakistani PM’s Ajmer visit.
“Our soldiers are not sitting idle. We won’t remain quiet if they violate the ceasefire. This keeps on happening at the ground. The battalion commanders are the best people to reply,” Singh replied when asked about the situation at the Line of Control.
Singh, however, said the Indian Army had already conveyed its concern to the Centre on the issue of ceasefire violations, beheading of an Indian soldier and brutal killing of another soldier by Pakistani troops in January.
“At that time, we showed our concern.. We have shown our emotions (to the Centre),” the Army Chief, who was here to attend the War Decorated India Triennial National Convention cum Reunion, said.
On Friday, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that there cannot be normalisation of ties with Pakistan unless the terror machine still active there was brought under control.
The Premier said India has made sincere efforts to normalise its relations with Pakistan and had achieved some progress.
DND
