Ceasefire violations: Air Chief Marshal Browne warns Pak

New Delhi, Jan 12: Asserting that repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan are "unacceptable", IAF chief Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne today warned that India may have to look at "some other options for compliance" if such incidents continue.

"We have a Line of Control, we have a ceasefire agreement, we have certain structures and mechanisms which are sacrosanct and any violation of these with impunity especially what has been happening in the last few months is totally unacceptable. We are monitoring the situation carefully because if these things continue to be the way they are and these violations continue to take place, then perhaps we may have to look at some other options for compliance," he told reporters here on the sidelines of an NCC function.

The IAF Chief, who is the senior most armed forces officer in the country, was asked about the suggestions he has given to the political leadership on the brutal killing of two Indian soldiers by Pakistan Army. Refusing to divulge the options being looked at by the Government, he said, "Options are options. We do not discuss these options openly. If the violations continue, we may have to look at the whole issue all over again."

Asked how would the military leadership uphold the honour of soldiers such as the two jawans killed by Pakistan Army, he said, "When you join the armed forces, you hold certain ethos, values and certain traditions of the country which you have to uphold."

On Jan 8, Pakistan Army regulars had infiltrated inside Indian territory in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir and killed and mutilated bodies of Lance Naiks Sudhakar Singh and Hemraj there.

India has also been raising the issue of rising number of ceasefire violations by Pakistan in the last one year. The latest violation took place two days after the killing of two Indian soldiers by Pakistani troops in the Mendhar Sector of Poonch district.

The tension between the two Asian neighbours has aggravated after the brutal killing and beheading of the two Indian soldiers.

Asked about his message to NCC cadets who may later on join the armed forces, he said: "If you join the armed forces, you hold certain values, you hold certain ethos, certain traditions of the country, which we have to uphold and that's the kind of oath that you take, when you join the armed forces.

"My message to the youth who want to join the armed forces is that hen they do so, they would be treated honourably, they would be taken care of and we will make sure that everything is available for them in meeting their operational task."

Yesterday, Defence Minister AK Antony had assured that enough troops have been deployed at the Line of Control (LoC) and the government is taking all steps to protect the nation's interests and prestige of the armed forces.

PTI