Antony holds Pakistan army responsible for infiltration

India on Wednesday blamed Pakistan Army for its “tacit and open” support to terrorists infiltrating into Jammu and Kashmir from across the border, while expressing “serious concern” over the ceasefire violations.
Defence Minister A.K. Antony (File photo/ ENS)
Defence Minister A.K. Antony (File photo/ ENS)

India on Wednesday blamed Pakistan Army for its “tacit and open” support to terrorists infiltrating into Jammu and Kashmir from across the border, while expressing “serious concern” over the ceasefire violations.

On the sidelines of a South Asian Conference at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) here, Antony told reporters that New Delhi wanted to improve relations with Islamabad. Saying that attempts by terrorists to sneak into India was increasing, Antony questioned the sincerity of Pakistan, asking them how infiltration was being allowed by the security agencies on the other side of the border.

“There has been an unusual increase in the ceasefire violations on the International Border. That is a new development and is a matter of serious concern,” Antony said. “Another concern is that infiltration attempts are  increasing and the numbers (of infiltrators) are also on the rise. In some incidents, we found terrorists are equipped and more prepared to sustain themselves more,” he said.“On Pakistan side, border is completely guarded by Pakistan armed forces. How can terrorists try to infiltrate into India without the knowledge and support of Pakistan Army.  I am sure that nothing can happen without the knowledge and tacit support of Pakistan,” he said. 

Chinese Pact

Antony said that though the new border deal with China may not stave off military transgressions at the border, the pact has established a quicker and more efficient manner of solving issues on the Line of Control.

“Regarding China...not only China, but on any issue...I am not a prophet or an astrologer. I cannot say anything for years to come,” he said, when asked if the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA), signed when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited China earlier this month, could prevent situations like the April-May Debsang-type incident, when PLA troopers camped in Ladakh for 21 days.

The PLA had refused to vacate their camp from Ladakh’s Daulat Beig Oldi area in Jammu and Kashmir till a major diplomatic and military effort was launched by India.

However, at a media interaction on the sidelines of a defence event here, Antony said both nations were sincere in improving the situation at the borders.

No Politics Please

Defence Minister A K Antony, in the last seven years at South Block, has maintained that he would not take on any political questions at a defence event ever.

On Wednesday, on the sidelines of a defence event, when he was asked for his opinion on BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s criticism of the UPA’s defence policies, Antony vehemently refused to answer that question. “No, no, no, no...there is no politics in the Defence Ministry,” he said.

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