Omar talks tough on ceasefire violations from Pakistan

Talking tough, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today asserted that India cannot be at the "receiving end" of unabated ceasefire violations by Pakistan and should "respond in kind" if these persist.
"Obviously, this cannot be a one-sided affair. It cannot be a situation where we are at the receiving end and no response is given," he said.
Centre should explore other options if Pakistan coanatinues to violate ceasefire along the LoC, he said.
Referring to the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in New York last month, Omar said Singh was very forthright in putting across India's serious its concerns in a clear manner.

"A mechanism had been worked out whereby the DGMOs of both countries would meet to discuss cooling of the LoC and International Border.
"That has not happened so far. I believe that is an option that needs to be exercised, failing which obviously, Government will have to look at responding in kind," he told reporters here.

A total of 136 ceasefire violations have been reported in 2013, the highest in the past 8 years. Even today, Pakistani rangers opened fire at 10 border posts injuring two people.
Addressing state police personnel, Omar said "if they (Pakistan) violate the ceasefire, we won't respond by words only. We will have to find some other options. If our people living along the borders are being targeted, we also know how to respond in kind but so far we do not want to do it."

The Chief Minister said Indian troops were exercising restraint as "we believe in avoiding sufferings for the masses".