India on Thursday lodged a strong protest with Pakistan over the incidents of cross terrorist infiltration at the Line of Control (LoC) and targeting of Indian civilians and security forces on 21 and 26 December, leading to loss of lives on the Indian side.

The External Affairs Ministry summoned a senior Pakistan High Commission official to the foreign office and conveyed to him New Delhi’s grave concern at Pakistan’s continued support to cross border terrorist infiltration into India, including supporting cover fire provided by Pakistan forces.

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The Pakistani official was told that despite repeated calls for restraint and adherence to the ceasefire understanding of 2003 for maintaining peace and tranquillity, Pakistan forces have this year carried out over 1962 incidents of unprovoked ceasefire violations in which 50 Indians have lost their lives.

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‘’Pakistan was once again asked to fulfill its bilateral commitment to not allow any territory under its control to be used for terrorism against India in any manner,’’ the MEA said in a statement.

India has ruled out the possibility of any diplomatic initiative for the resumption of talks with Pakistan until the Lok Sabha elections, likely to be held in April-May next year.

According to top sources, the laying of the foundation-stone of the Kartarpur Saheb Corridor by Pakistan did not mean the two countries were close to resuming their stalled dialogue. There was no change in India’s stand that terror and talks could not go together. ‘’The opening of the Kartarpur Saheb Corridor was a cultural and religious issue and not a diplomatic engagement between the two countries,’’ they added.

Sources observed that even on the Kartarpur Saheb initiative, Pakistan had shown insincerity with its Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi describing it as a ‘googly’ bowled by Prime Minister Imran Khan, a former Pakistan Cricket captain.

Meanwhile, India has ruled out the possibility of any diplomatic initiative for the resumption of talks with Pakistan until the Lok Sabha elections, likely to be held in April-May next year.

According to top sources, the laying of the foundation stone of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor by Pakistan did not mean the two countries were close to resuming their stalled dialogue. “The opening of the Kartarpur Saheb Corridor was a cultural and religious issue and not a diplomatic engagement between the two countries,” said a source.

The sources observed that even on the Kartarpur Sahib initiative, Pakistan had shown insincerity with its Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi describing it as a ‘googly’ bowled by Prime Minister Imran Khan.