Chandigarh, March 9
While declining to comment on the visit of Pakistan Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf to India in the backdrop of two Indian soldiers being killed recently by Pakistani troops, Chief of the Army Staff, Gen Bikram Singh today said that violations of the ceasefire on the Line of Control would not be tolerated.

“The visit is a political decision taken by the government. I cannot comment upon it as the Army Chief,” he said while speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the Triennial National Convention-cum-Reunion of the War Decorated India here. He said the Army had already conveyed its concerns and emotions to the government on the issue of ceasefire violations and the beheading of an Indian soldier and the killing of another soldier by Pakistani troops in January. General Bikram said the Army was ready to give a befitting reply to any ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops.

“If Pakistan troops violate the ceasefire, our men also fire. This is being taken care of at the tactical level by battalion commanders and it is happening,” he said. On the issue of China strengthening its road and rail network in Tibet near the border, the Army chief said India was aware of the developments and was undertaking infrastructure development in forward areas.

He said that infrastructure development was a continuous process.

Earlier, addressing gallantry awardees and their families, the Army Chief advised ex-servicemen to remain apolitical. “Having been part of a disciplined force, dabbing in politics would lead to their stature and ethos loosing sheen,” he said.