Border tension: Onus on Pakistan to de-escalate, India says

NEW DELHI: As stray incidents of firing continued to be reported from the international border in J&K, India further hardened its position saying the onus for de-escalation is on Pakistan.

After the Pakistan foreign ministry accused India of starting ceasefire violations, the MEA responded by saying that any such allegation from across the border couldn’t be taken seriously as Pakistan is the country which harboured Osama bin Laden.

“It is for Pakistan to end its adventurism … de-escalation is entirely in Pakistan’s hands,” said MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin. He warned Pakistan with “appropriate response” from India for whatever it chose to do.

“These allegations (about India being responsible for the standoff) are being made by those who harboured al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden for years in a garrison town even while claiming before the West that they were participating in the global war on terror,” he said. Insisting that Pakistan had already been given a befitting reply, the ministry said India did not get anything for PM Narendra Modi’s several peace overtures after he assumed office. “We made the first move after the new government was formed but what is it that we got in return? A media spectacle before exploratory talks, hostile propaganda at UNGA, continued terrorism from across the border and now ceasefire violations. We will respond appropriately to their efforts,” said the spokesperson, adding that peace and tranquility needed to be restored on the international border/ LoC.

“We will not talk out of fear but we have no fear of talks,” said Akbaruddin.