ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has informed troops deployed on the Line of Control (LoC) and working boundary that each violation by the Indian forces of any kind must be responded to with full force in the most effective manner. General Bajwa said this during his maiden visit to the Line of Control on Friday. He spent his day visiting Headquarters 10 Corps Rawalpindi and troops on forward locations on the Line of Control, according to an ISPR statement. He was briefed about prevailing security situation at LOC in view of recent violations and escalation by Indian troops and appreciated troops for their operational readiness and befitting response given to unprovoked Indian firing in violation of a ceasefire agreement. This was “in view of recent violations and escalation by Indian troops and Pakistan’s own response,” the ISPR said. The COAS said India’s ‘aggressive posture’ aims solely to divert the world’s attention away from ‘atrocities’ being committed by Indian troops in Indian-held Kashmir. Gen Bajwa said the Kashmir issue will have to be resolved in line with United Nations resolutions keeping in view the aspirations of the Kashmiri people in order to achieve lasting regional peace, according to an ISPR release. The Army chief appreciated the operational readiness of Pakistan’s troops and the ‘befitting response’ given to ‘unprovoked Indian firing’ across the LoC. The COAS directed them to keep the highest level of vigil at all times. COAS said India’s aggressive posture solely aims to divert attention of the world from atrocities being committed by their troops in Indian occupied Kashmir. He said that the core issue of Kashmir will have to be resolved between the two countries in the line with UN resolutions and aspirations of the people of Kashmir, for lasting peace in the region. Lt Gen Malik Zafar Iqbal, Comd of 10 Corps received COAS at Corps Headquarter and later accompanied him during his visit to LoC. The Army chief’s statements come at a time when tensions between Pakistan and India are running high following an alleged ‘surgical strike’, unrest in Kashmir and the Uri army base attack in September.