Pakistan says its army not involved in killing of 5 Indian soldiers

New Delhi: Pakistan today ruled out “involvement” of its Army in killing of five Indian soldiers on the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir last week and said both the countries have a responsibility to ensure that ceasefire was respected.

Pakistan High Commissioner Salman Bashir also said both India and Pakistan should work towards creating conditions conducive for a meeting between their Prime Ministers next month in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

“It is very difficult to say how this incident happened but we are very confident that there is no involvement of Pakistan Army in the incident. And there is a need to see it with an open mind,” he said while talking to media after a function to mark the 67th Independence Day of Pakistan at the mission here.

Bashir was asked if Pakistan Army was involved in the killing of five Indian soldiers last week along LoC in Poonch.

“We both have a responsibility for peace and stability and in present conditions we both have a responsibility to ensure that ceasefire is respected by both sides on the LoC,” he said.

Asked if Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would meet his Indian counterpart next month, he said, “our Prime Minister, very recently, again expressed his desire and has stated that he is looking forward to meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh next month in New York.

“We still have some time in-between. Both sides should work towards creating conditions conducive for a meeting.”

PTI