Free hand to BSF to fire back at Pak, says Rajnath
Union home minister Rajnath Singh says he has given the Border Security Force a free hand not to show the “white flag” any longer, and instead give a befitting reply to incessant attacks from Pakistan across the international border, in violation of the ceasefire. Mr Singh said India’s attempts to build peaceful ties should not be mistaken for weakness.
The home minister said Sunday that the BSF DG told him “we have on 15 occasions shown white flags, but Pakistan is repeatedly indulging in firing”. Mr Singh said: “I told ( him) that if Pakistan does not desist, give straight orders ( to the BSF jawans) that next time the white flag will not be shown, but firing will be started ( from the Indian side).”
Addressing the BJP’s “Vijay Sankalp Yatra” at Hathin in Haryana’s Palwal district, Mr Singh said the UPA had allowed the perception to gain ground “not only among the people of India, but around the globe, that we are a weak state”. Then he added: “But after the formation of the Modi government, the world has changed that perception. We are not weak, we have the full capability to give a befitting reply.”
Home minister Rajnath Singh said that as part of India’s gesture for peaceful and friendly relations , the heads of state of India’s neighbouring nations had been invited for the new government’s oath- taking ceremony, which was also attended by Pakistan’s Prime Minister.
But he lamented Pakistan alone ‘’ chose to ignore this and is behaving in such a manner”.
“It ( Pakistan) is repeat- edly violating ceasefire and indulging in firing,” he said adding it must desist from its “nefarious” designs.
Meanwhile, it is revealed that the Pakistani spy agency was unhappy with the Pakistan government’s gesture to release the BSF jawan, who was swept away in Chenab river and captured by Pakistani forces last month. Top sources revealed that multiple agencies on the Pakistani side are active at the border and taking keen interest in disturb- ing any attempts to build peace on the border. Top sources revealed that the BSF jawan captured by the Pakistani Rangers last month after he got swept away, was blindfolded throughout his stay on the Pakistani side and questioned by at least four different agencies , including a detailed questioning by suspected ISI officials who took keen interest in him.
The Pakistani Rangers, Pakistan Army and ISI officials are believed to be among the agencies who quizzed him as he was moved from one location to another but kept him in blind fold throughout his stay in their custody. . Incidentally, a day after the jawan was released by the Pakistani forces after India built pressure on Pakistan government for his safe release, the sniping from the Pakistani side on the BSF posts started. Sources in security agencies are viewing this as a clear indication of forces like the ISI within Pakistan clearly being unhappy with any friendly initiative taken by the Pakistan government.