Pakistan violated ceasefire 16 times since March: Parrikar tells Rajya Sabha

 Pakistan has violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control and the International Border 16 times since March, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday. 

As per the details given by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in a written reply, the maximum violations was along the LoC which saw 14 such incidents. Appropriate retaliation to the violations, as required, has been carried out by Indian Army/BSF, he said.

In addition, all violations of ceasefire are taken up with Pakistan authorities at the appropriate level through the established mechanism of hotlines, flag meetings as well as weekly talks between the Directorate Generals of Military Operations of the two countries, he said. Parrikar said that diplomatically, India has repeatedly emphasised, including at the highest level, the need for Pakistan to uphold the sanctity of the LoC and the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir as its obligations emanating from the Simla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration.