Pakistan army chief accuses India of ceasefire violations

Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Sharif on Thursday accused India of ceasefire violations which has caused casualties on both sides and increased tensions between the two nuclear neighbors.

The two sides had been involved in fire-trading in recent weeks.

The Pakistani Army Chief visited forward locations on the Working Boundary, the international border, in Sialkot district in Punjab province, and appreciated their high state of morale and operational preparedness on frontline, the army said.

"The repeated Indian cease fire violations on working boundary and line of control, in the recent past are a distraction for Pakistan from its campaign against terrorism and adversely affect regional stability," the army statement quoted Gen. Raheel as telling the troops.

"Let there be no doubt that any provocation along the Line of Control and Working Boundary will meet a befitting response," he was quoted as saying.

The Army Chief was given a detailed briefing by local commanders about the prevailing security situation at the working boundary.

"The COAS (Chief of the Army Staff) also visited towns and villages affected due to Indian unprovoked firing along the working boundary."

On its part, Indian officials also blame Pakistan for ceasefire violations.

Both countries have fought three wars, two over Kashmir, since their independence in 1947.

Pakistan and India had declared ceasefire in 2003 along the Line of Control, which divides the two countries in the disputed Kashmir region. Guns had been relative silent since then; however, both sides occasionally involve in exchange of fire. Endi