India-Pakistan border tension: A 'sad' Nawaz Sharif convenes high-level military meet.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting with military and civilian officials to review tensions with India after the killing of five Indian soldiers along the LoC.
The meeting, held at the Foreign Office, was attended by top military officials and Sartaj Aziz, the Prime Minister's Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs, sources said.
The PM on Thursday 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.
"It was imperative for both India and Pakistan to take effective steps to ensure and restore ceasefire on the LoC," Sharif added.
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".
"Pakistan is prepared to discuss steps with India for further strengthening of existing mechanisms both at the political and military levels," he was quoted as saying in the statement issued by the foreign office.
Sharif reiterated Pakistan's resolve to "persist in its efforts to improve relations with India through a constructive dialogue on all issues".
This was one of Sharif's first engagements since his return from a private visit to Saudi Arabia. Tensions have flared between the two countries following the killing of five Indian soldiers on Tuesday.
Indian Defence Minister A K Antony said in parliament today that it was "now clear that 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.
Pakistan has denied that its troops were involved in the incident. Subsequently, military officials in Islamabad said two Pakistani soldiers were injured in firing across the LoC.
Bilateral relations plummeted during this week after a thaw, when friendly messages were exchanged after a new government led by Sharif took over in Islamabad in June.
The India-Pakistan dialogue process was put on hold after an Indian soldier was beheaded and the mutilated body of another soldier was found following an attack by Pakistani troops in Poonch sector on January 8.
British Prime Minister David Cameron urges India and Pakistan to resolve bilateral issues
British Prime Minister David Cameron has asked India and Pakistan to resolve bilateral issues through dialogue amid tensions over the killing of five Indian soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir.
"Talks can resolve any issues in a democratic system," Cameron told Manchester-based 'Asian Lite' newspaper.
"As leaders of two great democracies, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will soon launch bilateral talks to resolve all the issues between the nuclear armed countries for the welfare of the billion plus people," he added.
The British Prime Minister went on to praise his Indian counterpart as an example for other world leaders to emulate for his determination and knowledge to turn India into an global economic power.
In reference to the newly-elected Pakistan, Cameron expressed hope that the "seasoned politician" would bring remarkable changes to Pakistan's democratic system.
"I met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif just after the Pakistan elections, and I am sure the new leader of Pakistan will ensure peace and stability in the region," Cameron was quoted as saying.
The leader of Britain's Conservative-led coalition government had recently also urged the two sub-continent neighbours to help bring peace to Afghanistan.
"India and Pakistan can play a crucial role in bringing peace back in Afghanistan," he had said last month.
In the picture, Indian BSF soldiers patrol over a footbridge built over a stream near LoC, a ceasefire line dividing Kashmir between India and Pakistan, at Sabjiyan sector of Poonch district.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting with military and civilian officials to review tensions with India after the killing of five Indian soldiers along the LoC.
The meeting, held at the Foreign Office, was attended by top military officials and Sartaj Aziz, the Prime Minister's Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs, sources said.
The PM on Thursday 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.
"It was imperative for both India and Pakistan to take effective steps to ensure and restore ceasefire on the LoC," Sharif added.
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".
"Pakistan is prepared to discuss steps with India for further strengthening of existing mechanisms both at the political and military levels," he was quoted as saying in the statement issued by the foreign office.
Sharif reiterated Pakistan's resolve to "persist in its efforts to improve relations with India through a constructive dialogue on all issues".
This was one of Sharif's first engagements since his return from a private visit to Saudi Arabia. Tensions have flared between the two countries following the killing of five Indian soldiers on Tuesday.
Indian Defence Minister A K Antony said in parliament today that it was "now clear that 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.
Pakistan has denied that its troops were involved in the incident. Subsequently, military officials in Islamabad said two Pakistani soldiers were injured in firing across the LoC.
Bilateral relations plummeted during this week after a thaw, when friendly messages were exchanged after a new government led by Sharif took over in Islamabad in June.
The India-Pakistan dialogue process was put on hold after an Indian soldier was beheaded and the mutilated body of another soldier was found following an attack by Pakistani troops in Poonch sector on January 8.
British Prime Minister David Cameron urges India and Pakistan to resolve bilateral issues
British Prime Minister David Cameron has asked India and Pakistan to resolve bilateral issues through dialogue amid tensions over the killing of five Indian soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir.
"Talks can resolve any issues in a democratic system," Cameron told Manchester-based 'Asian Lite' newspaper.
"As leaders of two great democracies, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will soon launch bilateral talks to resolve all the issues between the nuclear armed countries for the welfare of the billion plus people," he added.
The British Prime Minister went on to praise his Indian counterpart as an example for other world leaders to emulate for his determination and knowledge to turn India into an global economic power.
In reference to the newly-elected Pakistan, Cameron expressed hope that the "seasoned politician" would bring remarkable changes to Pakistan's democratic system.
"I met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif just after the Pakistan elections, and I am sure the new leader of Pakistan will ensure peace and stability in the region," Cameron was quoted as saying.
The leader of Britain's Conservative-led coalition government had recently also urged the two sub-continent neighbours to help bring peace to Afghanistan.
"India and Pakistan can play a crucial role in bringing peace back in Afghanistan," he had said last month.
In the picture, Indian BSF soldiers patrol over a footbridge built over a stream near LoC, a ceasefire line dividing Kashmir between India and Pakistan, at Sabjiyan sector of Poonch district.
India-Pakistan border tension: A 'sad' Nawaz Sharif convenes high-level military meet - daily.bhaskar.com
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