New Delhi:
Defence Minister AK Antony said today that the recent ceasefire violations along the Line of Control in Kashmir are "a major cause of concern." He also said, "We will take every step to protect our interest and the Indian armed forces."
Last evening, Pakistan and India exchanged fire, and a Pakistani solider was killed.
The tension which began with cross-border firing on the weekend peaked on Tuesday after two Indian jawans were killed by Pakistani troops who crossed the Line of Control in the Medhar district, 220 kms north of Jammu. One of the soldiers was decapitated.
Pakistan has dismissed India's allegations that it violated the line of control and ceasefire as "negative propaganda" and has offered an investigation by UN military observers, which India has rejected.
Both sides, however, are stressing the need to prevent the crisis from escalating. India has sought a flag meeting between Indian and Pakistani commanders in Mendhar, but Pakistan is yet to respond.
India has said its standard operating procedure on patrolling along the LoC remains unchanged. It has also said that if Pakistan violates ceasefire again, it will respond "appropriately."
Yesterday, New Delhi confirmed that Tuesday's brutal killing of two soldiers by Pakistani troops will not impact the recent decision by both countries to introduce a more liberal visa process. But, as tension simmered on the Line of Control, 25 Indian trucks were stopped from entering a designated trade centre in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir from Poonch for the cross-border trade that has been used to promote confidence and trust between the two countries. Trucks are still stranded there and the trade centre is closed.
21 items, mainly agricultural produce, are bartered every week between the two sides.
In the Uri sector, however, 50 Indian trucks crossed over and 37 trucks came into India from the Pakistan occupied Kashmir without hindrance, sources said.
Last evening, Pakistan and India exchanged fire, and a Pakistani solider was killed.
The tension which began with cross-border firing on the weekend peaked on Tuesday after two Indian jawans were killed by Pakistani troops who crossed the Line of Control in the Medhar district, 220 kms north of Jammu. One of the soldiers was decapitated.
Pakistan has dismissed India's allegations that it violated the line of control and ceasefire as "negative propaganda" and has offered an investigation by UN military observers, which India has rejected.
Both sides, however, are stressing the need to prevent the crisis from escalating. India has sought a flag meeting between Indian and Pakistani commanders in Mendhar, but Pakistan is yet to respond.
India has said its standard operating procedure on patrolling along the LoC remains unchanged. It has also said that if Pakistan violates ceasefire again, it will respond "appropriately."
Yesterday, New Delhi confirmed that Tuesday's brutal killing of two soldiers by Pakistani troops will not impact the recent decision by both countries to introduce a more liberal visa process. But, as tension simmered on the Line of Control, 25 Indian trucks were stopped from entering a designated trade centre in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir from Poonch for the cross-border trade that has been used to promote confidence and trust between the two countries. Trucks are still stranded there and the trade centre is closed.
21 items, mainly agricultural produce, are bartered every week between the two sides.
In the Uri sector, however, 50 Indian trucks crossed over and 37 trucks came into India from the Pakistan occupied Kashmir without hindrance, sources said.
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