Monday, January 24 2005 20:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Levelling counter-allegations, Pakistan today (Jan 24, 2005) accused Indian troops of violating the 14-month-long ceasefire by firing at its forces at Mendhar sector of the Line of Control (LoC) on January 21.

"The Indian troops fired small arms fire at Pakistani troops positions at Mendhar sector on January 21 and the firing took place from 15:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs," Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan claimed.

"Pakistani troops observed restraint and did not fire back. There was no damage to life or property in the incident," he told reporters in Islamabad.

This is the first time Pakistan pointed out the cease-fire violation by India. Khan did not provide the reason why it took four days for Pakistan to make its allegation public.

He also did not say if Pakistan took up the matter during the talks over hotlines between Indian and Pakistani Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs).

Khan, however, said the first incident of firing took place within the area under the control of Indian troops.

"There were some incidents inside the held Kashmir..we have clarified we have not violated the ceasefire," he said, replying to a question about the firing incidents reported by India on January 18.

Khan said Pakistan did not believe that there were any "ulterior motives" on the Indian part to sabotage the peace process.

"I do not think there is any ulterior motives to sabotage the peace process."

"Recently the Indian Government has given us assurances that they are serious about engagement and hoped a "fresh endeavour will be made to keep the dialogue process on track" during the proposed meeting between Indian and Pakistan Prime Ministers on the sidelines of the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) summit to be held in Dhaka on February 6 and 7, Khan added.

Khan said it was incumbent on India to inquire truce violation incidents and inform Pakistan, adding that similar allegations were made on January 20 also by India.

In both the incidents, he said Pakistan informed through DGMO that it was not involved in the incidents.

"We have not violated the ceasefire and are observing it strictly and religiously," he said.

Khan also denied any "linkage" between the reported ceasefire violations and Pakistan's decision to go to World Bank on Baglihar issue.

Pakistan filed its reference on Baglihar hydro power project being constructed in Jammu and Kashmir on January 18 and the first ceasefire violation was reported the same day.

"It is unfortunate. We saw an artificial correlation between the Baglihar issue and the so-called ceasefire violations that was uncalled for, because they had no linkage and a lot of media networks that were linking the phenomenon."

Referring to comments by Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Army Chief Gen. N C Vij, he claimed there was a media campaign against Pakistan accusing it of violating the ceasefire.