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India, Pakistan top military commanders talk after two days of cross-border firing

WION
New Delhi, Delhi, IndiaUpdated: Nov 23, 2016, 04:34 PM IST
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Three Indian soldiers were killed in cross-border firing yesterday, with the?body of one being mutilated, the Indian Army had said. Photograph:(Getty)

In the aftermath of Indian army's "punitive fire assaults", DGMOs of India and Pakistan spoke today at the latter's request for an "unscheduled hotline interaction" during which the "unethical" act of mutilation of bodies of Indian soldiers by "terrorists" was raised, news agency PTI reported.

"He (Pakistani Director General of Military Operations) was categorically informed that if any ceasefire violations were initiated by Pak troops or any infiltration attempt was made by terrorists from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir or territory under its control, it would invite an appropriate response by Indian army," a statement issued by the Indian DGMO's office said.

Indian DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh spoke of infiltration attempts by terrorists from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir and "unethical act of mutilation of the body of Indian soldiers close to the Line of Control by terrorists infiltrating from Pakistan", the PTI report stated.

Pakistan's DGMO was exhorted to exercise strict control on their troops to refrain from any "nefarious activities", it said.

Headlined "Aftermath of Indian Army's punitive fire assault: Pak DGMO requests for unscheduled talks on hotline", the report said that Pakistan's restraint would lead to normalcy along the Line of Control.

Pakistan's DGMO raised the issue of civilian casualties on his side caused by Indian firing at the Line of Control.

Lt Gen Singh expressed grief at civilian casualties but stated that "retaliatory firing by Indian troops has only been carried out targeting locations from where Pakistan has initiated ceasefire violations on Indian posts".

Pakistan Army had earlier said that seven people, including three soldiers, were killed in an exchange of fire with Indian troops at the LoC.

Three Indian soldiers were killed in cross-border firing yesterday, with the body of one being mutilated, the Indian Army had said.

Today's offensive by the Indian army was what it called "heavy retribution" to the killing of its soldiers.

(WION with inputs from PTI)