Pakistan said today it was "deeply concerned" about reports of Indian troop movements along its borders that it said would aggravate a tense situation and oblige it to take appropriate countermeasures.
|
|
Pakistan security forces. Photograph: Reuters.
|
A Foreign Office spokesman expressed concern over reports of massive troop movements by India along the Pakistan border in the Sindh-Rajasthan Sector, in the Chenab-Ravi corridor and along the Line of Control in Kashmir.
The Indian troop movements, which follow provocative and threatening statements by Indian leadership, would aggravate an already tense situation in the region, a Foreign Ministry statement quoted the spokesman as saying.
He added that naturally Pakistan would be obliged to take all appropriate counter measures, said the statement issued just hours after India said it would withdraw its High Commissioner after an attack by guerrillas last week on its parliament.
India said its troop movements along the border were a "precautionary measure" and a reaction to what it said was a large mobilisation of armed forces by Islamabad.
India also said today it was recalling its ambassador to Pakistan because of what it said was Islamabad's continuing support of cross-border terrorism.
"In view of the complete lack of concern on the part of Pakistan and its continued promotion of cross border terrorism, the government of India has decided to recall its High Commissioner in Islamabad", Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Ms Nirupama Rao said.
Bus and train services between the two countries will also stop from January 1st.
India had demanded Pakistan shut down two guerrilla groups and arrest their leaders for involvement in last week's attack on the Indian parliament in which 14 people were killed.
Pakistan denied any involvement in the attack and has sought a joint investigation into the incident.