India slams Pak Army support to infiltrators, says retaliation will continue

New Delhi: In an unscheduled Director General of Military Operations-level talks after an urgent request from Islamabad, Indian DGMO Lt Gen A.K. Bhatt on Monday told his Pakistani counterpart that the support provided by the Pakistan Army to infiltrators was "unacceptable" and the Indian side will continue its "retaliatory measures" along the LoC.

Lt Gen. Bhatt conveyed this during an unscheduled hotline interaction at 2 p.m. on Monday after a request from the Pakistan side.

Pakistan DGMO Maj. Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza alleged that Indian forces resorted to "unprovoked firing" along the LoC.

Lt Gen. Bhatt told him that the support provided to terrorists by the Pakistan Army for crossing the border was the primary reason for the heavy firing from the Indian side at the Line of Control. He also said the Pakistan Army has been using civilians in forward posts to gather information and to help terrorists

Lt. Gen. Bhatt said retaliatory firing by the Indian troops was carried out in response to "unabated support" given by the Pakistan Army to armed terrorists to infiltrate the border and target Indian Army posts with heavy calibre weapons.

"It is in response to such actions that Indian troops retaliate," the Indian DGMO said.

He said the Indian side will continue its effort to ensure peace and tranquility along the border, and that the support provided by Pakistan Army to terrorists crossing the LoC is the prime reason for any 'collateral damage'.

He said the support to terrorists by the Pakistan Army is "unacceptable".

"The Indian Army will continue to take all retaliatory measures as well as retain the right to punitively respond to such provocative acts of aggression from the Pakistan side in future also," the Indian DGMO said.

He said the Indian Army maintains "impeccable standards of professionalism" and does not target civilians. On the contrary, the Pakistan Army has employed civilians on forward posts and accorded permission for permanent location in the vicinity of Pakistan army posts.

"These civilians have repeatedly been used to gain information on our locations and providing guides to terrorists while crossing the LoC," he told the Pakistan DGMO.