Islamabad has denied that Pakistani troops crossed into Jammu and Kashmir and killed two Indian soldiers but said it was ready to investigate India’s claim.
“Pakistan strongly rejects the Indian allegation of an attack across the Line of Control (LoC) on its military patrol in which two Indian soldiers were claimed to have been killed. These are baseless and unfounded allegations,” the Pakistani foreign ministry said in a statement, according to Xinhua.
The ministry said Pakistan was prepared to launch an investigation through the UN Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) on the ceasefire violations on the LoC.
Geo News said the Director General Military Operations of the Pakistani Army Wednesday spoke to his Indian counterpart by telephone and rejected New Delhi’s claim.
“Our troops did not carry out attack. Indians are making counter claim to cover their attack on a Pakistani post,” another senior Pakistani military official was quoted as saying.
Pakistan has accused Indian troops of killing one of its soldiers while Indian officials charged Pakistani troops with sneaking into Jammu and Kashmir’s Mendhar sector, and killing two Indian soldiers, and mutilating their bodies.
“Pakistani military denied Indian allegations of unprovoked firing,” a Pakistani military official was quoted as saying by Xinhua.
“It looks like Indian propaganda to divert attention from Sunday’s raid on a Pakistani post by Indian troops, in which a Pakistani soldier was killed,” the military official said.
Pakistan and India declared a ceasefire along the LoC in 2003.
“Pakistan remains committed to the ceasefire agreement of 2003 which is an important confidence building measure and should be respected in letter and spirit,” the foreign ministry statement said.
Pakistan also called for the need for abiding by and strengthening existing military mechanisms to ensure that there is no recurrence of such violations in future.
The statement said Pakistan is committed to a constructive, sustained and result-oriented process of engagement with India.
“We have made significant progress in the dialogue process. Pakistan has taken a number of steps to normalize and improve bilateral relations. It is important that both sides make serious efforts in maintaining this improvement and avoid negative propaganda,” it said.