Amid repeated ceasefire violations across the Line of Control and International Border, the Army is learnt to have warned its Pakistani counterpart of an ?effective, immediate and appropriate? response.
The Border Security Force has, meanwhile, refused to call Pakistan for a flag meeting and asked the Home and External Affairs ministries to raise the issue of ceasefire violations through ?diplomatic channels?.
The Army?s tough message was conveyed during the DGMO-level telephonic conversations which took place on Tuesday morning. In the evening, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley is learnt to have met the three service chiefs to discuss the border situation.
?Directors of Military Operations of the two countries held telephonic talks at 11.30am. The Pakistani side complained that India has resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation. We said that it is instead the Pakistani side which has carried out unprovoked firing,? said a Defence Ministry official.
?The Indian side expressed concerns about civilian casualties and warned that the Indian side will reserve the right to carry out a befitting response any time. Our response would be effective, immediate and appropriate.?
Heavy firing from both sides continued through the night and in the afternoon at Balnoi. The Pakistani side, sources said, involved Pakistani Rangers, their Army and support from ?non-state actors?. They fired 82mm mortar shells targeting civilian areas along the international border.
The Indian side responded with infantry weapons such as light machine guns and 81mm mortars. By Tuesday evening, as per ministry records, five civilian casualties and 34 injuries were recorded on the Indian side. Pakistan, on the other hand, claimed loss of four lives.
Separately, BSF officials said they would give a ?soldierly response? to Pakistan and not invite them for any kind of flag meeting. A senior Home Ministry official said during the last ceasefire violations in July and August, which lasted for 43 days, they called Pakistan at least 18 times for a flag meeting.
?Our men kept standing with white flags at the designated meeting place on several occasions but nobody from their side turned up,? said a senior Home Ministry official about BSF?s frustrations.
Read more: India talks tough, warns Pak of ?effective? reply…