India says it is ‘too early’ to normalise relations with Pakistan: Report

Defence minister says India should wait till Pakistani assurances translate into action.


Web Desk January 23, 2013
Indian Border Security Force soldiers patrol along the India-Pakistan border fence about 27 KM from Wagah on January 13, 2013. PHOTO: AFP

Cross-border tensions on the Line of Control (LoC) have eased after talks between India and Pakistan, but it is “too early” for India to normalise relations with its western neighbour, Indian Defence Minister AK Anthony was quoted by the Press Trust of India (PTI)  on Wednesday.

According to the report, Anthony said that infiltration attempts from Pakistan into India are continuing despite extreme weather. “If this is the case now, what will be the position (of infiltration) in summers?” he was quoted as saying.

He added, “We have to cross our fingers and after the tragic and inhuman incident, even though Pakistan has assured us certain things, we have to see how this assurance translates into action.”

The minister also said that India should wait and watch and “assess the ground situation,” and assured that no hasty decision will be taken regarding a future course of action.

Tensions between India and Pakistan were heightened earlier this month after a series of cross-border exchanges in the disputed Kashmir region where in which five soldiers were killed on both sides. India claims that one of its soldiers was beheaded.

Firing and small skirmishes are common along the 740km LoC despite a ceasefire that was agreed in 2003. The Indian army says eight of its soldiers were killed in 2012, in 75 incidents of ceasefire violations.

COMMENTS (81)

ANJUM NISAR | 11 years ago | Reply

india and super power:)))))ARE YOU JOKING:)))))

Their per capita income is now 1st time in history really more than pakistan but mere 300 dollars more per capita,but less than 45500/capita than USA forget usa it is less than 4000 percapita than china and less than 12000/ capita than russia or turkey also.it is extremely poor with 80 percent less than 2 dollars per day.their economic growth has created rich [people but on the bottom side their poor are much more poor than even the pooreset of the poor in pakistan. go to thier cities and you will see that level poverty which only exists now in some very poor african countries. their history is so humilating so they have inferiority complex and pretend to be a SUPER POWER:)

janan | 11 years ago | Reply @Gujesh: Keeping Baluchistan. Where this argument has come from. I am Baluch pathan and Baluchis are overwhlmingly with Pakistan and these 3 stooges sardars do not represent the vast pro pakistani 70 sardars.
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