Pak. accuses India of firing on LoC

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JULY 21. For the first time since it announced the policy of `maximum restraint' on the Line of Control (LoC) in December last, Pakistan accused India of indulging in ``artillery fire'' on the LoC and said it would retaliate if its troops were fired upon by the Indian troops.

The Director-General of the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), Maj. Gen. Rashid Quereshi, told The Hindu , ``We received information this morning that Indian troops had fired in the Siachen and Kargil sectors on the night of Friday/Saturday.'' According to the information received, the Indian troops had allegedly fired across the LoC without any provocation. ``There is not going to be any initiation of firing on Pakistan's part. But if we are fired upon we will retaliate, which is in self- defence.''

The ISPR chief, who is also Press Secretary to the Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, claimed that Indian troops fired 83 shells at the Kargil sector on Friday, and Pakistani forces responded with restraint.

Asked if it was for the first time that Indian troops had indulged in firing from across the LoC since December last, Maj. Gen. Quereshi replied in the affirmative. In response to the Ramzan initiative announced by India, Pakistan had declared that it would observe `maximum restraint' on the LoC and urged India to reciprocate.

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