ISLAMABAD, Oct 27: Pakistan said on Sunday it had seen no evidence yet that India had acted on its pledge to withdraw troops from border.
“There is no physical evidence of any move back,” said Maj-Gen Rashid Qureshi, Director-General of Inter-Services Public Relations.
“They may be planning to, but physical evidence of any move back from the borders has not been seen.”
India said on Thursday it had begun withdrawing troops from the frontier with Pakistan, a process that would take six weeks. Pakistan said after India’s announcement of the planned withdrawal that it would follow suit.
Qureshi told Reuters that India started the border build-up and it should therefore make the first move.
“Until we see evidence of that on the ground, Pakistan cannot take any action. Talking about withdrawal of Pakistani troops should not even begin before this threat that India poses is withdrawn.”
The two countries have shown no signs of moving towards talks and have been arguing recently over a regional summit to be hosted by Pakistan early next year.
Gen Qureshi said the Indian army was under pressure to withdraw given what he said were high numbers of casualties caused by landmines and friction between soldiers and officers.
“Pakistan has suffered no such problems,” he said.
“We took positions that were defensive and protective in nature. They (India) have ended up suffering much more.” —Reuters
