Indian Army reserves the right to retaliate appropriately, DGMO Lt Gen AK Bhatt to Pakistan's Maj Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza

In a stern message to his Pakistani counterpart Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of Indian Army Lt Gen AK Bhatt said that Indian Army reserves the right to retaliate appropriately to any incident leading to loss of lives of Indian troops along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

The DGMO through a telephonic conversation said that there has been an increase in the cross-border infiltration with "active support" of Pakistani forward posts.  

The way Indian soldiers are ambushed and targeted on a regular basis by elements supported by Pakistani troops is also hampering the internal security of Jammu and Kashmir said the DGMO to Maj Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza, his Pakistani counterpart. 

The conversation was initiated by Major Gen Mirza who held the Indian forces responsible for targeting Pakistani civilians in the Jammu sector. 

"The Indian DGMO in his response highlighted that all ceasefire violations in the Jammu sector were initiated by Pakistani Rangers and the BSF troops deployed only responded appropriately to them.

"It was also emphasised that no targeted firing on civilians was carried out by the Indian troops. Apart from this, firing by BSF troops was initiated against armed intruders attempting to infiltrate from the close proximity of Pakistani posts along Amritsar border," the Army said.

The LoC in Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a spurt in ceasefire violations by the Pakistani troops and the Indian Army has been retaliating effectively to Pakistani actions.

(With PTI inputs)