Pakistan rejects Indian DM remarks on Kashmir attack

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Tuesday rejected allegations by Indian Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman that Pakistan-based militants carried out the deadly attack on a military camp in Indian-controlled Kashmir over the weekend.

Indian officials had told the media that the fierce gunfight broke out early Saturday morning after gunmen indiscriminately opened fire and entered a highly fortified military camp at Sunjawan in Jammu, the winter capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Indian officials said five army men and one civilian were killed while a total of 11 persons were injured, including four army men and seven civilians.

Shortly after the attack, Sitharaman warned Pakistan in reported comments and said "Pakistan will pay for this misadventure," according to the Indian media.

Responding to a question regarding the comments of the Indian defense minister, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman regretted that Indian leveled allegations against Pakistan without sharing any evidence.

"The Indian allegations are premature and inopportune, especially as India itself admits that the operation still continued and investigations had just started, when these comments were made," the spokesman said.

"We have repeatedly seen India arrogating to itself the role of judge, jury and executioner. The reflex assignment of blame and smear campaigns, based on unfounded allegations, carry no credibility," he added.

Relations between the nuclear rivals had already been tense due to the cross-border shelling.

Both countries had declared ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Kashmir region and the Working Boundary in 2003. But they routinely accuse each other of violating the ceasefire.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman described as deplorable what he called the "threatening tone of the Indian comments" and said such approach will achieve nothing but further "vitiates the already tense environment marked by unprecedented ceasefire violations" by India along the LoC and the Working Boundary.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. Enditem