India on Monday lodged a strong protest against the ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) and made it clear to it that the Army reserves the right to retaliate, if provoked.

The Army's position was conveyed at the Brigadier-level Flag Meeting between the two sides at Chakan-Da-Bagh crossing-point in Poonch Sector of Jammu region.

According to an official release issued after the meeting, it was conveyed in no uncertain terms that repetition of such acts will not be tolerated.

During the 30-minute meeting that took place in the backdrop of mounting tensions over repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan and beheading of one of the two Indian soldiers last week, the Indian representative expressed grave concern over the barbaric act by Pakistani troops in the ambush in Mendhar Sector.

The Indian side pointed out that it was against the tenets of the Geneva Convention as also in contravention to all established norms of soldierly behaviour.

The Indian side further conveyed to the Pakistan delegation that such a dastardly and cowardly act is totally unacceptable and is a premeditated attempt to undermine the ceasefire agreement of 2003, which can lead to further escalation.

The release echoed the Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh's statement in Delhi ahead of the Flag Meeting that the Indian Army reserves the right to retaliate at the place and time of its choosing in case they recur.

The Indian side is also believed to have taken up with Pakistan the issue of return of the head of Lance Naik Hemraj, one of the two soldiers killed by Pakistan on 8th of this month.

On its part, the Pakistan delegation leader denied their involvement in the incident and any ceasefire violation by their troops.