August 24, 2008	Sunday	Sha'aban 21, 1429

NEW DELHI, Aug 23: Indian Defence Minister A. K. Antony warned Pakistan on Saturday to stop firing at its soldiers guarding the LoC, adding that Indian armed forces were prepared for any eventuality. Having said that, Mr Antony, who was speaking at a news conference in Kozhikode in Kerala, clarified that there was no threat of a war with Pakistan.

“India appeals to Pakistan not to encourage infiltration and the recent cross-border firing, in which we lost lives of a few armed personnel, is viewed with all seriousness and the Indian armed forces are prepared to face any eventuality,” Mr Antony said.

Mr Antony was in Kozhikode to lay the foundation stone of the strategic electronic unit of the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd there, said the armed forces have been asked to remain ever vigilant to defeat any attempt of infiltration aimed at creating trouble along the borders.

On a question whether a war like situation prevailed in the face of recent firing incidents along the borders, he replied “not at all”.

“But such developments during the last two months are viewed with all seriousness,” he said, adding the armed forces have been asked to exercise vigilance and alertness. “India is in the process of constant and systematic modernisation of the armed forces and we are taking series of steps to improve the working conditions of armed personnel,” Mr Antony said.