Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today sought to assuage feelings in India by expressing "sadness" over the recent incidents on the LoC and "loss of precious human lives" that sparked tensions between the two countries.
As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has come under pressure from the BJP not to hold talks with him in New York next month, Sharif said he was looking forward to the meeting in which he intends to discuss steps to further build trust and consolidate the bilateral relationship.
Chairing a meeting at the Foreign Office to review tensions in the wake of the killing of five Indian soldiers, he said the two countries should take effective steps to restore the ceasefire along the Line of Control.
However, a statement issued by the Foreign Office made no reference to Tuesday's incident in which Indian soldiers were killed by "specialist troops" of the Pakistan Army.
"It was imperative for both India and Pakistan to take effective steps to ensure and restore ceasefire on the LoC," Sharif said.
He further said it is "incumbent upon the leadership of both sides not to allow the situation to drift and to take steps to improve the atmosphere by engaging constructively with a view to building trust and confidence".
Relations between the two sides soured this week after the killing of the five Indian soldiers. Indian Defence Minister A K Antony said in parliament today "specialist troops of the Pakistan Army were involved in the attack" and a "group from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir side crossed the LoC and killed" the Indian soldiers.
