BHOPAL: Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh claimed on Friday that Pakistan had been given a “befitting reply for violating ceasefire” and said Islamabad would not dare to disturb peace at the border anytime soon. 

He said Pakistan had been given adequate response for recent “transgressions along the Line of Control and International Border” under the new leadership. “Ab shayad jaldi Pakistan himmat nahi karega,” he said at a convention of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers. 

Pakistani forces had killed five persons in firing and shelling on the border, the minister said.  “I raised the issue with the concerned director general and asked what was happening on the border. He said we have shown them white flags as per our policy 16 times. I told him, you will not show the flag the 17th time. Following this, our forces gave a befitting reply to them,” he said.

As a result, Pakistan rushed to the UN with a demand that India should immediately hold talks on the ceasefire issue, Mr Singh said.  He said India’s longstanding diplomatic policy was to have peaceful relations with all its neighbours.

“But if someone provokes us again and again, then there is a limit to tolerate that.” Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took charge in May, India’s standing at the international level had improved, he said. 

By arrangement with the Times of India

Published in Dawn, November 1st , 2014