Echoing Army chief’s comments on ceasefire violation by Pakistan on line of control, the northern army commander said on Tuesday that Indian Army was prepared to retaliate, but not in haste.
“We reserve the right to retaliate at time and place of our choice if provoked by Pakistan. I have communicated to field commanders and have ordered them to give strong reply to any kind of provocation,” said Lt. Gen K T Parnaik, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) northern command of Indian Army.
Talking to media persons on Army Day, northern army commander said, “There is no war like situation on the LoC but the barbaric act by Pakistani Army on January 8, when they killed our soldiers and mutilated them, is unpardonable and in violation of Geneva convention.”
Lt Gen Parnaik said that even after the flag meeting on Monday, Pakistani Army fired on three different places on Indian Army.
“Pakistan has been trying to provoke us time and again but our commanders and soldiers have shown enough restraint on the LoC. On the intervening night of January 13 and 14, when it was decided that flag meeting will be held on Monday, Pakistani Army resorting to firing on our posts, which stopped when we communicated to them on hot line,” Lt Gen Parnaik said.
The army commander also rejected allegations made by Pakistan that one of its soldiers had been killed in Indian Army firing in Uri. “Our troops have right to retaliate but not to cross LoC until I order them. In Churunda village of Uri sector, it was Pakistan who fired with mortars on our post and in retaliation by our forces with small weapons, their soldier may have died,” Parnaik also showed photographs in which Pakistani side is densely covered by forests.
{{/usCountry}}The army commander also rejected allegations made by Pakistan that one of its soldiers had been killed in Indian Army firing in Uri. “Our troops have right to retaliate but not to cross LoC until I order them. In Churunda village of Uri sector, it was Pakistan who fired with mortars on our post and in retaliation by our forces with small weapons, their soldier may have died,” Parnaik also showed photographs in which Pakistani side is densely covered by forests.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, the GOC-n-C northern command said that in PoK, 43 terror camps are still active in which more than 2500 terrorists are taking training. “Out of them 400 to 500 terrorists are waiting on launching pads to infiltrate on this side.”
Meanwhile, army chief General Bikram Singh has said he would visit the home of lance naik Hemraj, who was beheaded by the Pakistan Army last week, on Wednesday.
Singh would visit Khairair in Mathura to meet the family of Lance Naik Hemraj in the morning hours, army officials said in Jammu.