The statement comes a few days after army chief General Raheel Sharif vowed to thwart any “aggression” against the country, in a thinly-veiled warning to arch rival India after a spate of deadly cross-border firing incidents in Kashmir.
The two sides exchanged mortars and intense gunfire this month, killing at least 20 civilians and wounding dozens in the worst violation to date of a 2003 ceasefire. While the firing has abated, tension remains high along a 200-km stretch of the border dividing the nuclear-armed rivals.
"Our conventional strength is far more than theirs. So if they persist with this, they'll feel the pain of this adventurism," Indian Defence Minister Arun Jaitley told NDTV in an interview.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government came to power in May promising a tough response to violence in the Himalayan territory. It accuses Pakistan of helping militants cross into its side to keep alive a 25-year armed revolt in India's only Muslim-majority state.
Military officers on both sides say Indian border commanders adopted a more aggressive stance in the clashes this month, firing 1,000 mortars on one day this month.
It was not clear what triggered the fighting.
Pakistani army officials said the trouble began with India's decision to beef up border defences, in violation of the ceasefire pact.
Indian army commanders, for their part, were incensed by the killing of a soldier on their side of the Line of Control in Kashmir in a remote-controlled explosion that they blamed on militants backed by Pakistani army regulars.
"When Pakistan used to fire, we always had a shield in our hand. This time we also had a sword," said Jaitley, a close associate of Modi who is also finance minister.
Modi invited his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, to his inauguration as part of a push to rebuild trust with neighbours. But while relations with the smaller neighbours are improving, Pakistan has remained a stumbling block.
In August, the Modi government abruptly called off talks between the two countries' top diplomats, objecting to Pakistan's ambassador to New Delhi holding talks with Kashmiri separatists ahead of the meeting.
Jaitley said it was up to Pakistan to create the conditions for dialogue.
"Of course we can talk to Pakistan, but it is up to Pakistan to create an atmosphere for talks. Pakistan has to stop triggers which upset the environment in which talks are held," he said.
COMMENTS (31)
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@Mohan: Yup. We did that after what you did to us in 1971.
kashmir is no issue till MODI in power
Indians never underestimate Pakistan armed forces and never think that current Pakistan armed forces are like 1965's and 1971's and if you and your forces are so courageous and far superior to Pakistan then come on and test your war's abilities and capabilities instead of killing the innocent and sinless people on LoC and Working Boundary.....
Even if India does do a proxy war in Balochistan, isn't it a suitable reprisal for what Pakistan has been doing in Kashmir for decades? Pakistan should measure itself by the same yardstick that it uses for India
@Aalia: please comment on the subject matter instead of probing my nationality or my wish to get recommended!!!
India is like a balloon out blown because of its hegemonious designs. She is mistaken as sword is an arm, piling-up arms does provide some support but doesn't decide the fate of the war, you need courage to win a battle or war. The Indian forces lack it, India is known for its nocturnal adventurism. India likes to treat Pakistan like small countries (such as Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh) in the region which is wrong.
I think Pakistan has now learnt a lesson and they will not fire across the LOC because India will respond with heavy retaliation. Also India does not seem to be bothered about constant Pakistani nuke threat and blackmail. They have successfully burst the Pakistani nuclear threat balloon,
@KM: Despite being larger in size, it is a pity that the Indians have not grown up to date. England just ran a referendum in Scotland, why can’t India do the same, and get results? What are they afraid off, if at all it is a people’s country?
Great idea and would be great if Pakistan can lead with an example by conducting a referendum in all its provinces ;-)
Events like this are to be expected again as long as this visionary racist Prime Minister of India is in power. Most Indians are already mad about leadership quality of this racist man.
Now, because recently India has made many deals to acquire weaponry from different countries, Indians are enjoying this fake sense of confidence like drunks, only to experience hangover towards the end.
Just few weeks ago Modi was talking about building toilets for the population and now he is talking about fight.
Visionary Leader Isn't he.
@Haider: Pakistan was warned not to conduct meeting with Huriyat. but Pakistan held in New Delhi. Besides what Pakistan was trying to accomplish? Pakistan will not get an inch from Huriayat. You are dealing the person who will give robust answer. Now why you are birching?
@Nadeem: Why do you need to pretend yourself as Pakistani and then commenting in favor of India ? You just want to be recommended .
Way to garnish talk about Simla Agreement. India itself has been caught violating Article 6 of Simla Agreement time and again in history, and continues to do so till today. it's not Pakistan making strides away from Simla Agreement, it's India who is not keeping up to the agreement and making it ineffective. Kashmiri people should be given the right of self-determination, that is the only unbiased and logical solution.
@Haider: You are right, meeting Huriyat was not first time. But just because I crime is tolerated does not make it right. When under Shimla agreement Pakistan agreed to make it a bilateral talk, then why involve any one including Huriyat to spoil it ? Huriyat does not present whole of Kashmir it only represents those who are ally to Pakistan. How does involving a bias group bring any un biased solution. It's like India talking to Kashmiri Pundits and show case them as representative of entire Kashmir. Huriyat and it's leaders are not "elected" representative by the people. People of Kashmir did not make them their representative or leader. If that was the case they would win state elections.
@KM: By that logic, Pakistan should hold one in Sindh, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa and most importantly, Blaochistan. You can't advise a bitter pill and not be willing to take it.
BTW if a referendum is held, the possibility exists that both Pakistan and India lose their hold over Kashmir.
Pakistan is in better shape, professionally, militarily, due to its current 15 years experience of fighting terrorism.
Barakat is missing, because you do not go by the rules of democracy. Barakat is missing in India, despite getting some level of control over American high paying job market, because they do not exercise the democratic principle. By the same token, Pakistan lacks Barakat, because, their rulers do not exercise justice within their own country, & have stolen Pakistan. Pakistan is kind of bankrupt, & their personal wealth has been continually shooting up during the term of their rules. The personal income taxes they pay are far far below the assets their family possess, undisclosed offshore family ownership. Pakistan & India both have to get their acts straight, & exercise democracy across the board, not oppression in the name of democracy, not discrimination against anyone.
I hope better sense prevails on both the sides. Who benefits from a war? Not the ordinary Indian, nor the ordinary Pakistani most of whom are struggling to meet ends. Neither do the families' of soldiers. It is all good to say my son/husband is a martyr. But, a loss of life is a loss forever..Their children will grow fatherless, and it is an extremely difficult life for a single mother in most Asian countries... Nationalism and religious jingoism are all good on paper. But the reality is much more stark and dark. The ONLY people who benefit immensely from wars are foreign companies of USA, Russia, France etc. who sell defense equipment to both the countries. The loss of our countrymen's lives fills up their pockets..Do we want it??? Another point, India can afford to buy it. But wrong priorities has resulted in making large parts of Pakistan ungovernable and its image has taken a massive dent. Better to develop what one has rather than crave for more, isn't it? Just my thoughts..
for the kashmir issue india and pakistan should learn from the england / scotland vote and let people of kashmir choose.
secondly, the aggression comes from the indian part for sure because of the timing of the incident, the comments they're making and their attitude towards not wanting to resolve it. i know for sure, no indian, no pakistani wants violence and all these stupid acts are just making things worse unnecessarily. yes, india your economy is booming, but please stop acting arrogant and start acting rational please. we all want peace not war. thank you!
What a baby-ish attitude Indians have? While Pakistani politicians keep the nation illiterate to maximize their gains while in power, the Indians on the other hand keep up the war hysteria with Pakistan, to maintain power, and maximize gains while in power. Despite being larger in size, it is a pity that the Indians have not grown up to date. England just ran a referendum in Scotland, why can't India do the same, and get results? What are they afraid off, if at all it is a people's country?
@Haider: India you cancelled the foreign secretary talks.With a stupid reason of meeting Hurrayat.Was it first time?
Just because something has been repeated in the past does not make it right or logical, here are few ticklers.
1) Indian national anthem calls out Sindh as part of its territory and Pakistan has objected to it for over 60 years. By the same logic, India can stake claims over Sindh 2) Musharraf proposed 4-point formula for Kashmir, are you guys going back on that one? 3) Why did Pakistan signed Simla agreement thereby making Kashmir a bilateral issue?
Hahah India get over yourself every sees through the shining india nonsense wake up and smell the music dont overestimate yourselves
All sane, educated and well-informed Pakistanis know in their hearts who intiates these incidents on border. Just a quick glance at the history will give us the answer.
@Ch. Allah Daad: Fully agree with you. The poorest of the poor live in the subcontinent, and all that the foolish politicians and army's, on both sides, can do is harp of war. Pakistan is to blame for its obsessive compulsive mental make up vis-à-vis Kashmir. If all can accept the LOC as the border, it will be good for the people of the region. Otherwise, we can carry on being poor for another few decades. Govts must fight poverty, disease, awful health and literacy parameters. Kashmir is a non negotiable issue for India and Pakistan has wasted 67 years being a victim of this debilitating Obsession. Enough is enough.
Can't we just agree to stop firing together. How stupid is this I did, he did blame game.Peace, not sensationalism is the solution.
Shame on both countries on escalating situation and showing pride on killing innocent poor people. Who lives at border areas? Poorest of poor, who have nowhere to go.