As firing continues across the border, inspector general of Border Security Force (Jammu frontiers) Rajesh Sharma said on Sunday the onus on defusing the tension along the border was on Pakistan. He said India will retaliate in equal measure if continuously fired upon.

“Since the escalation of tension, we tried 16 times for sectoral-level meetings, but there was no response from Pakistan. In fact, in the past flag meetings, Pakistan has always been in denial. The onus is on them. We will give them a befitting reply as we have in the past,” said Sharma in an interaction with the media.

“In fact, we have not got any response to several protest notes sent to Pakistan,” he said. The protest notes are sent by either country when there is firing along the border.

On being asked why Pakistan was targeting the RS Pura sector, he said, “They have chosen this area possibly because it has dense civilian population and due to cultivation season most of them are out in the fields.”

He, however, said that the major reason behind the firing was that Pakistan wants to divert the attention of the media and general public from its internal crisis. He said since the escalation of tension from July 16, one BSF jawan was killed and as per Pakistan media reports, two Rangers, three civilians and two terrorists belonging to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were killed in firing by India.

Sharma said since July 16, 30 incidents of ceasefire violation had occurred, of which, 25 were instances of heavy firing by Pakistan.

On the reports of the Pakistan army assisting the Rangers, he said such a possibility can’t be ruled out.

“We have information and this possibility can’t be ruled out,” he said.

He also added that the BSF had noticed suspected movement across the border but can’t confirm if that’s an infiltration bid.

HT

Onus on Pak to defuse tension