An Indian soldier on guard at the Line of Control with Pakistan. (File Photo)
Amid escalating hostilities along the border in Jammu and Kashmir, India today warned of "a forceful response" to ceasefire violations, but the tension is unlikely to thwart a planned meeting of National Security Advisers.
"We remain committed to steps that contribute to peace and tranquility on the border," said Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. "However, there should be no doubt that any unprovoked firing from the Pakistani side would meet with an effective and forceful response from our force."
His comments came after the Defence, Home and Foreign Ministers met to review the renewed chill with Pakistan. Amid the cross-border firing, Pakistan summoned the Indian envoy after its army said it had shot down an Indian surveillance drone. Mr Jaishankar rejected any link to India, saying the drone s appeared to be a "commercially available" Chinese design.
Last week, a long chill between the two countries was thawed in Ufa, Russia, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif met on the sidelines of a regional summit.
Pakistani troops fired at five of India's forward bases and six villagers on Wednesday, when a woman was killed. Ajit Doval, the National Security Advisor, spoke three times yesterday to Pakistani envoy Abdul Basit, who also received a call today from Foreign Secretary Jaishankar.
The meeting between the two Prime Ministers last week was seen as an important breakthrough. Last year, India had cancelled talks between Foreign Secretaries of both countries after the Pakistan envoy in New Delhi insisted on hosting Kashmiri separatists days before the dialogue.
The priority at the moment, the Foreign Secretary said, "is stabilising the border and making clear our position. We stand for strengthening peace and stability with Pakistan, as well as our willingness to protect our sovereignty and integrity."