Pakistan is fully capable of responding befittingly to Indian aggression: Pakistan Defence Minister

He tweeted: "Pakistan is fully capable of responding befittingly to Indian aggression. ...v do not want the situation on the borders of two nuclear neighbors to escalate into confrontation. ... India must demonstrate caution and behave with responsibility."

India on Thursday summoned Pakistan envoy and lodged a strong protest over repeated “unprovoked” ceasefire violations by Pakistan forces along the Line of Control (LOC) targeting Indian posts which took away many lives and asked Islamabad to stop firing immediately, media reported.

According to sources, Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner in New Delhi Mansoor Ahmed Khan was summoned to South Block, which houses the Foreign Ministry.

It has been learnt that, India lodged a strong protest over the ceasefire violation.

He was told that “unprovoked firing from across the border that also continues to target civilians” must stop, media reported.

India, in fact, has taken up with Pakistan the ceasefire violation more than once in the past week as part of the “diplomatic initiatives” to end the impasse.

It came hours after Pakistan targeted 60 Indian posts near the 200-km International Border in Jammu and Kashmir with firing and shelling that left eight, including five civilians, injured last night.

But Pakistan, as sources said, maintained that it was India who started the provocation—a charge rejected by the Indian authorities.

In fact, Pakistan on Monday had called in India’s deputy high commissioner JP Singh to lodge a protest over the ceasefire violation by India.

Islamabad then raised the pitch further by lodging a protest with the UN Military Observer Group (UNMOGIP) over what it termed as India’s “aggression.”

On Thursday, Indian Defence Minister Arun Jaitley gave a befitting reply to Pakistan envoy by saying, "India is never an aggressor, it is a responsible state, but it has a paramount duty to protect its people.”

Apart from applying pressure via diplomatic channel by summoning Pakistan envoy, New Delhi again on Thursday warned Islamabad by saying that adventurism of Pakistan along the Jammu and Kashmir border by unprovoked firing and shelling will cost it dearly.

Arun Jaitley said, "India is a responsible country which does not attack first. Pakistan provokes and attacks but India has also a responsibility to protect its land and its people. So the Army and BSF are taking all measures and it will do what it takes to stop it.”

"Pakistan should understand that this type of attacks' response will be heavy on them. If they move forward with this adventurism it will be dear for Pakistan," said Jaitley.

The Army sources said nearly 700 militants are waiting to cross into the Kashmir Valley from across the border.

Citing this report, Defence Minister said, "Firing is a cover for infiltration."

He said, "There is a connection between firing and infiltration. "It is also an effort by Pakistan to precipitate tension where none existed."

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also like Jaitley attacked Pakistan by saying, “PM monitoring India-Pakistan border situation closely, we won't let the nation down.”

In his first remarks on the ongoing border crisis with Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said, "Everything will be fine soon."

PM on Wednesday has already given “free-hand” to Armed forces to respornd to Pak aggression.