Soon after Monday’s flag meeting between the area commanders of the facing armies at Chakan-da-Bagh crossing point, Pakistan had said that one civilian resident was injured in India’s renewed firing in Battal area of Poonch, which it termed as unprovoked.
But Lt. Gen. Parnaik accused Pakistan of “fabricating things” and of being “arrogant and adamant; not ready to admit anything.” He added, “After Monday’s flag meeting, they still remained adamant, arrogant and not ready to accept anything. We told them we will continue to respect ceasefire but not if we are provoked.” He also accused Pakistan of always being on denial mode, always fabricating things.
Replying questions, the NC chief said there is a large presence of Chinese troops and workers in PoK but added that Beijing would not like to “interfere” in ongoing LoC conflict between India and Pakistan. “I don’t think China will be stakeholder in India and Pakistan on the issue of border skirmishes — it has not interfered and will not do it,” he said. He also said, “There is a large number of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops and Chinese workers in PoK and we also know that they are involved in construction of infrastructural projects in Gilgit-Baltistan and PoK.” He said Army had no about the Chinese carrying weapons in PoK or are readying for it.
Giving details of fresh incidents of firing by the Pakistanis along the LoC, he said two of these took place in Mendhar sector. “Firing was reported even at the time of Army Chief’s address. We have not responded to these because they were not effective but we are watching them,” he said.
He, however, did not think a war-like situation existed on Kashmir frontier or will happen in future. “It is not good for Pakistan and we also don’t desire it,” he asserted.