Pakistan premier M Nawaz Sharif expressed “his sadness over the recent incidents on the LoC and the loss of precious lives.” He did not admit the involvement of Pakistani troops in Tuesday’s killings. Sharif said it was “imperative for both India and Pakistan to take effective steps to ensure and restore ceasefire on the LoC.”
Sharif’s statement came hours after Defence Minister A K Antony told Parliament that the killing of the Indian soldiers by Pakistani Army regulars and terrorists will have “consequences” on the Indian Army’s “behaviour” on the LoC, as well as New Delhi’s relations with Islamabad.
As clamour grew for suspension of talks with Pakistan, Sharif sought to salvage his proposed meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York next month.
A release issued by the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi quoted him saying that he was “looking forward to his meeting” with Singh. “During the meeting,” he was quoted as saying, “we will discuss steps to further build trust and consolidate this relationship.”
The release was issued after Sharif’s meeting with his advisor on national security and foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz, and other senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Pakistan government in Islamabad on Thursday.
Antony, who had earlier refrained from directly blaming the Pakistan Army for the incident, made a course-correction on Thursday and said “specialist troops” of the neighbouring country were involved in the “brutal and unprovoked attack” on the Indian Army patrol.
He was criticised by the Opposition after he told Parliament on Tuesday that “persons dressed in Pakistan Army uniforms” accompanied the terrorists during the attack. The Opposition had created ruckus in both Houses, alleging that the defence minister’s statement corroborated Pakistan’s denial.
“We all know that nothing happens from the Pakistan side of the LoC without support, assistance, facilitation and often, direct involvement of the Pakistan Army,” Antony told Parliament on Thursday.
Antony said Pakistan should not only punish people responsible for the attack, but also show “determined action to dismantle terrorist networks, organisations and infrastructure and show tangible movement on bringing those responsible for the terrorist attacks in Mumbai in November 2008 to justice quickly.
” New Delhi’s tough talk and growing uncertainty over the resumption of bilateral dialogue has prodded Islamabad into action and Sharif was briefed by foreign office officials.
The release issued by the Pakistan government quoted Sharif saying that leadership from both sides should not allow the situation to drift.
Steps should be taken to improve the atmosphere by engaging constructively to build trust and confidence.
He also said while the existing military-to-military channels could be optimally utilised to prevent misunderstanding, Pakistan was prepared to discuss steps to further strengthen existing mechanisms at both political and military levels.
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