Army chief orders soldiers to continue responding to Indian aggression

Gen Raheel Sharif attends funeral prayers of seven soldiers killed in Indian firing along LoC

Army chief General Raheel Sharif directed on Monday Pakistan Army soldiers deputed at the Line of Control (LoC) to continue to 'effectively' respond to India's unprovoked firing across the border.

According to the military’s media wing, Gen Raheel during a briefing in Jhelum said the army will leave no stone "unturned to defend the motherland".

Jhelum:#COAS briefed on situation at LOC.Will continue to respond effectively,leave no stone unturned to defend motherland-2/2 pic.twitter.com/7Qb2k00BNP

— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) November 14, 2016

The army chief was in Jhelum to attend the funeral prayers of seven soldiers killed in Indian firing along LoC earlier today.

#COAS attends funeral of sldrs at Jhelum who embraced martyrdom in Indian cross LOC https://t.co/rf2b7WnbZc tribute 2 valour& sacrifice -1/2 pic.twitter.com/SejYYSQhir

— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) November 14, 2016

Frequent incidents of cross-border fire have been witnessed since a heightened situation in occupied Kashmir. More than 100 protesters have lost their lives to the security forces in the valley while dozens blinded by use of pellet guns.

The two countries have been at loggerheads since the killing of a populist rebel leader Burhan Wani by the occupied forces in the valley on July 8.

India also accuses Pakistan of being involved in an attack on an army base in Uri on September 18, in which 19 Indian soldiers were killed. Islamabad has denied the charge, which Delhi leveled without any substantial investigation or evidence.

Indian HC summoned at Foreign Office

Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry summoned Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale to the Foreign Office on Monday to protest the killing of Pakistani soldiers along LoC by unprovoked firing of the Indian security forces.

“The Foreign Secretary summoned the Indian High Commissioner this afternoon (14-11-2016) and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violation by the Indian occupation forces on the LoC, resulting in the Shahadat of 7 Pakistani soldiers, in Bhimber area,” a statement said.

The foreign secretary asked the Indian HC to convey to his government that it must stop the provocative firing and observe the ceasefire. “Pakistan is pursuing a policy of restraint, which should not be construed as a sign of weakness,” he said.