India passes resolution against Pakistan over LoC killings

Indian parliament on Wednesday passed a resolution directly blaming Pakistan for killing of its soldiers along the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Kashmir region, earlier this month. The resolution was passed a day after Pakistan's National Assembly passed a resolution accusing Indian troops of "unprovoked aggression" on the Line of Control (LoC) and extending support to the "struggle" of the Kashmiri people. The resolution passed by the Indian parliament noted that "there should be absolutely no doubt in anyone's mind including members of the Pakistan National Assembly that it was the Pakistan Army that was involved in the unprovoked attack on an Indian Army patrol on our side of the LoC, on August 6, 2013". The resolution read that that it was highly unfortunate that "Pakistan chose to indulge in such unprovoked attacks at a time when efforts were being made to establish a long-lasting framework of peaceful, friendly and co-operative ties". It stressed that India has uphold sanctity of the LoC. The resolution called upon the government of Pakistan to abide by the ceasefire commitment of 2003 along the International Border and Line of Control both in letter and spirit. "Our restraint should not be taken for granted," the resolution warned. The resolution, however, stressed that India was not a threat to Pakistan or the people of Pakistan. "It is the terrorist groups that have been nurtured by Pakistan to target India and have become the biggest threat in the region," resolution read, adding, "This House reiterate once again that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir including the territory forcibly and illegally occupied by Pakistan is an integral part of India". As such, the resolution read, the house rejected the resolution passed by the National Assembly of Pakistan on August 13, 2013 and the provincial Assembly of Punjab. LOC is a de-facto border dividing Kashmir into Indian and Pakistani parts. Tensions are already high between the two countries on LOC in disputed Kashmir. Both the countries are leveling allegations and counter allegations against each other for violating the ceasefire. The ties between India and Pakistan dipped a new low on August 6 over the killing of five Indian soldiers along the disputed Kashmir border. India accused Pakistani Pakistan Army for killing of soldiers, a statement vehemently denied by Pakistan. India and Pakistan have agreed in 2003 to observe a ceasefire along the international border and LoC in Kashmir. Since then the fragile ceasefire remains in effect between the two countries with occasional reports of its violation. According to human rights organizations, the separatist guerrillas have waged a war against the Indian rule since 1989 which has claimed lives of more than 70, 000 people.