Soldiers to respond to ceasefire violations: Jaitley

Amritsar: Talking tough on Pakistan, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley Monday said that ceaserfire violations by the neighbouring country in recent days were deliberate and Indian soldiers will give a befitting response.

Justifying the calling off of foreign-secretary level talks with Pakistan, Jaitley, who was here Friday and visited forward posts along the international border with Pakistan, said: "The ceasefire violations by Pakistan are deliberate. Pakistan and some forces there do not want normalization of relations between both countries."

"The ceasefire violations (in recent days) are not only happening on the Line of Control (LOC) but also along the international border. I am sure that our soldiers will give a befitting reply to these ceasefire violations," he told media here.

"With these kind of provocations like the ceasefire violations and, more seriously, invitation to separatists to meet the (Pakistan) High Commissioner, it's for Pakistan to decide what kind of relationship it wants with India," said Jaitley.

Accompanied by army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag and Western Army Command chief Lt.Gen. K.J. Singh, Jaitley visited forward posts along the international border.

India Monday called off the foreign secretary level talks with Pakistan scheduled Aug 25 after the latter's high commissioner Abdul Basit held talks with separatist Kashmiri leaders in New Delhi.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said the scheduled talks have been called off as "no useful purpose will be served" by Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh's visit to Islamabad.