Amid escalation of skirmishes on the LoC, India today warned Pakistan that its restraint should not be taken for granted and asserted that the recent killing of five soldiers will have "consequences" on bilateral ties.
Defence Minister A K Antony said Indian troops are strongly and effectively retaliating Pakistan's unprovoked firing on the Line of Control as members cutting across party lines in the Rajya Sabha demanded befitting response.
Making a suo motu statement on the August 6 killing of five Indian soldiers in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir, he said the Government has taken the incident "very very seriously" and "mood" of the House and the nation will be factored into the actions to preserve the sanctity of the LoC.
He, however, remained evasive on questions by members including Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley as to whether talks will be held with Pakistan at the top political level as there are plans for a meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his counterpart Nawaz Sharif in New York next month.
"Naturally, this incident will have consequences on our behaviour on the LoC and for our relations with Pakistan," Antony said.
"Our restraint should not be taken for granted nor should the capacity of our armed forces and resolve of the government to uphold the sanctity of the LoC ever be doubted," he said.
He said Army troops have been mobilised to effectively retaliate every violation on the LoC and "they will do everything to ensure the sanctity of the LoC and the nation".
The Defence Minister tried to defend his initial statement in Parliament on August 6 that "20 heavily armed terrorists along with persons dressed in Pakistan Army uniform" were responsible for the killing, saying that was based on the information available at that time.
"At 2 O'clock, the incident took place... There was some confusion in Kashmir. It is there. I won't say here. That won't help us.... They were in doubt. I don't want to say in detail," he said.
