Srinagar, October 21
With Pakistan ratcheting up tension along the border, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today asked New Delhi to explore options other than dialogue with Islamabad if its forces continue to target Indian villages. There have been 175 ceasefire violations so far this year, the highest in the past decade, ever since the ceasefire agreement in 2003.

Omar’s tough words came on a day when Army Chief General Bikram Singh met Defence Minister AK Antony in Delhi and briefed him on the preparedness along the LoC besides recent incidents. General Bikram Singh also met top commanders and discussed the latest LoC situation.

“The Centre should explore other options if Pakistan continues to violate ceasefire,” Omar said while addressing police personnel on Police Martyrs' Commemoration Day at Zewan, on the outskirts of Srinagar. “We appeal to the Central government to strongly take up the issue with Pakistan and convey that continuous ceasefire violations will not be tolerated,” he said.

Omar, who has been a strong votary of Indo-Pak dialogue, said India should also think of other options. “We will not respond to ceasefire violation by talks, we know we can also use some other ways. We can give a befitting reply if they target us. If our people living near the border are being targeted, we also know how to respond,” he said.

Hundreds of villagers living in the border areas have fled their homes in the past few days as their homes and cattle have borne the brunt of firing from across the border.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the function, Omar said that the ceasefire violations “obviously cannot be a one-sided affair.”