Pak silent on request for flag meeting

The Indian Army on Friday sought a flag meeting with the Pakistani side even as Islamabad summoned Indian high commissioner Sharat Sabharwal to register a strong protest on “repeated attacks” on Pakistani soldiers.

The Indian Army on Friday sought a flag meeting with the Pakistani side even as Islamabad summoned Indian high commissioner Sharat Sabharwal to register a strong protest on “repeated attacks” on Pakistani soldiers.

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Pakistan, however, has not yet responded to the proposal for a flag meeting at Mendhar in J&K’s Poonch sector, where the two Indian jawans were killed.

In Islamabad, Pakistan foreign secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani handed over a strongly-worded demarche to Sabharwal. An Indian foreign ministry spokesperson said in New Delhi Sabharwal told Jilani Indian response to “unprovoked” firing by Pakistan was “controlled”.

Although there was no report of any fresh border clash since Thursday night, trade and bus services across the LoC were disrupted at some places. However, Pakistan assured India of giving it the most favoured nation status this month itself.

The Indian establishment continues to take a serious view of the situation along the LoC and defence minister AK Antony assured that all steps have been taken to protect the country's interests.

Efforts are also on between the two director generals of military operations to restore normalcy along the LoC where a ceasefire by and large holds since 2003.