General Kapoor warns of action

New Delhi, Sept. 4: The Army Chief, General Deepak Kapoor, on Friday said the Pakistan army is resorting to firing at the border to push maximum militants into Jammu and Kashmir before winter and warned if the trend of ceasefire violations continues India will have to “retaliate”.

“The attempts of ceasefire violation have increased because this enables infiltration to be carried out when the firing is on and can be used as a diversionary tactic,” he told reporters when referred to the ceasefire violations by Pakistan and the rise in infiltration by militants.

“Their (Pakistani army’s) attempt is to infiltrate more and more people during ceasefire violation but we understand their tactics and take appropriate steps,” he said.

To a question, the Army Chief said attempts would be made from across the border to “push in as many infiltrators as possible before the winter sets in. It is the trend that we are witnessing and the attempts of infiltration are going on.”

This, he said, was part of the efforts to “try and disrupt the stable and peaceful environment” in Jammu and Kashmir. He said India keeps raising the issue of ceasefire violation with Pakistan during border meetings.

“Our effort is to continue the ceasefire so that there are not many casualties and the two countries are able to maintain right relations,” he said.

“(But) If ceasefire violation continues, whatever action will follow from our side will be concrete. As far as possible, we exercise maximum restraint. But if such ceasefire violations happens again, it is automatic that at some stage, we will have to retaliate,” Gen Kapoor warned.