- Title: Pakistani army insists "no physical violation" of border by India
- Date: 1st October 2016
- Summary: BAGHSAR, BHIMBER SECTOR, LINE OF CONTROL, PAKISTAN-RULED KASHMIR (OCTOBER 1, 2016) (REUTERS) BHIMBER VALLEY MILITARY HELICOPTER FLYING AERIAL VIEW OF VALLEY ROTOR OF HELICOPTER VARIOUS OF MILITARY HELICOPTER FLYING OVER RIVER MINARET OF MOSQUE MILITARY VEHICLES PARKED OUTSIDE MOSQUE SOLDIERS SEATED IN MOVING VEHICLE ARMY TRUCK PARKED IN FIELDS ARMY VEHICLE PASSING THROUGH MARKET SIGNBOARD SHOWING BHIMBER AND LOCAL DESTINATIONS PAKISTANI FLAG PAKISTANI FLAG FLYING OVER ARMY POST JOURNALISTS LOOKING TOWARDS INDIAN SIDE OF LINE OF CONTROL HILL THAT MARKS LINE OF CONTROL VALLEY PAKISTAN'S MILITARY SPOKESMAN, LIEUTENANT-GENERAL ASIM SALEEM BAJWA, BRIEFING MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu/English) PAKISTAN'S MILITARY SPOKESMAN, LIEUTENANT-GENERAL ASIM SALEEM BAJWA, SAYING: "(Urdu) There has been no physical violation [of the Line of Control]. Neither can a physical violation take place, nor will such a thing be allowed. If ever any effort is made in this connection, it will be countered with full force. (English) They will get a very befitting response for any attempt to violate the LoC [Line of Control] physically." BRIEFING IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) PAKISTAN'S MILITARY SPOKESMAN, LIEUTENANT-GENERAL ASIM SALEEM BAJWA, SAYING: "We responded very effectively, and we fired for effect. We are definite that there have been casualties on their side, but why they are not accepting it, why they are not sharing the information, I think they need to be asked about that." VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS PATROLLING (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) PAKISTAN'S MILITARY SPOKESMAN, LIEUTENANT-GENERAL ASIM SALEEM BAJWA, SAYING: "Escalation is not in anyone's interests, initiating a war is not in anyone's interests. But if they initiate such an act from that side, the entire Pakistani nation is prepared, Pakistan's armed forces are prepared. We have been fighting a war [against terrorism] for the last so many years, so we are ready for this war more than ever before. They [India] probably do not have an idea of the strength of the Pakistani forces." SOLDIER ADJUSTING HIS HELMET VARIOUS OF SOLDIER LOOKING THROUGH VIEWFINDER HOUSE IN KASHMIRI VILLAGE ON PAKISTANI SIDE JOURNALISTS STANDING NEAR BUNKER BUNKER / VALLEY HILLS ON INDIAN SIDE OF LOC VARIOUS OF SOLDIER LOOKING TOWARDS INDIAN SIDE SOLDIER'S GUN PAKISTANI MILITARY POSTS ON HILLS TATTA PANI, KOTLI, LINE OF CONTROL, PAKISTAN-RULED KASHMIR (OCTOBER 1, 2016) (REUTERS) STREAM FLOWING STREAM FLOWING THROUGH MOUNTAINS SHRINE PAKISTANI FLAG ON ARMY POST VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS ON GUARD LOCAL RESIDENTS SITTING ON ROOF OF HOUSE SUN SETTING OVER TATTA PANI VALLEY
- Embargoed: 16th October 2016 18:35
- Keywords: conflict LOC India Pakistan Kashmir
- Location: BAGHSAR , BHIMBER SECTOR, LINE OF CONTROL AND TATTA PANI, KOTLI, LINE OF CONTROL, PAKISTAN-RULED KASHMIR
- City: BAGHSAR , BHIMBER SECTOR, LINE OF CONTROL AND TATTA PANI, KOTLI, LINE OF CONTROL, PAKISTAN-RULED KASHMIR
- Country: Pakistan
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA001526AJPJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Pakistan on Saturday (October 1) dismissed claims by New Delhi that Indian forces had conducted a "surgical strike" on the Pakistani side of the Line of Control in Kashmir, in what would be a violation of the 2003 ceasefire treaty.
Indian officials on Thursday (September 29) said elite troops crossed into Pakistan-ruled Kashmir and killed suspected militants preparing to infiltrate and carry out attacks on major cities, in a surprise raid that raised tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals.
Pakistan said two of its soldiers were killed in exchanges of fire, but denied India had made any targeted strikes across the de facto frontier that runs through the disputed Himalayan territory.
Briefing a group of journalists who were flown to Baghsar in the Bhimber sector on the LoC, military spokesman Lieutenant General Asim Saleem Bajwa denied Indian claims of 'surgical strikes' and said Pakistan's armed forces were fully prepared to respond to any threats.
"If they initiate such an act from that side, the entire Pakistani nation is prepared, Pakistan's armed forces are prepared. We have been fighting a war [against terrorism] for the last so many years, so we are ready for this war more than ever before. They [India] probably do not have an idea of the strength of the Pakistani forces," he warned.
Bajwa told journalists they had been invited for a visit to the LoC to show them the situation on the ground so that "Indian lies about surgical strikes could be exposed".
Earlier on Saturday, India and Pakistan exchanged fire across their de facto border in the Kashmir region in minor skirmishes that come at a time of heightened tension between the two countries.
Army officers from both countries blamed each other for starting the firing, which took place in the morning along the LoC. No casualties were reported. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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