Eurasia Press & News
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday expressed “sadness” over the border clashes in Kashmir, and said India and Pakistan must take “effective steps” to restore normalcy on the frontier.
Sharif told foreign ministry officials in Islamabad that he was sad over the incidents involving Pakistani and Indian troops along the Line of Control (LoC) that divides Jammu and Kashmir between the two countries.
“The prime minister said it was imperative for both India and Pakistan to take effective steps to ensure and restore ceasefire on the LoC,” a foreign ministry statement quoted him as saying.
Sharif’s comments came as defence minister AK Antony earlier in the day formally accused the Pakistan Army of killing the five soldiers in Indian territory early Tuesday.
Antony’s previous statement blaming “heavily armed terrorists” and others in Pakistani military uniform led to a storm, with the opposition accusing him of trying to take away the blame from the Pakistan Army.
Without referring to the death of the Indian soldiers, the statement said the clashes — two Pakistani soldiers were later wounded by Indians — had flared up tensions between India and Pakistan leading to “loss of precious human lives”.
Sharif, who took power in June, emphasized that existing military-to-military channels could be more optimally used to prevent misunderstanding between the two neighbours.
The present crisis, he said, should not be allowed to escalate.
“Pakistan … is prepared to discuss steps with India for further strengthening of existing mechanisms both at the political and military levels,” the statement quoted him as saying.
Antony retracts his statement on LoC killings, BJP smiles involving Pakistani and
