New Delhi, Jan 15 : Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yashwant Sinha on Tuesday welcomed Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh''s statement that there cannot be business as usual with Pakistan in wake of the brutal killing of Indian jawans along the Line of Control (LoC).

Sinha, who was the Finance Minister of the country during the NDA regime, said that the Prime Minister should have given a deadline to Pakistan and asked Islamabad to act within a reasonable time.

"I am quite sure there is a plan of action in the government''s mind, in the PM''s mind. I would have been happier if he (Prime Minister) had given a deadline to Pakistan. Pakistan does not act within a reasonable time then India should unleash that Plan B," he said.

The Prime Minister, who broke his silence on the prevailing tension with Pakistan on the LoC, said the attack on the Indian jawans is unacceptable.

"After this barbaric act, there cannot be business as usual with Pakistan. Pakistan must be held accountable for what happened on the LoC. Hope Pakistan will bring the perpetrators of beheading to justice. The future peace process depends on Pakistan," he said.

Tension between the two Asian neighbours has escalated ever since Indian jawan Lance Naik Hemraj Singh was beheaded in an attack by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control on January 8.

India yesterday lodged a strong protest against the ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the LoC and made it clear to it that the Army reserves the right to retaliate if provoked.

The Army''s position was conveyed at a brigadier-level flag meeting between the two sides at Chakan-Da-Bagh crossing-point in Poonch sector of the Jammu region.

Pakistan has denied India''s claim that its troops crossed the Line of Control to ambush a patrol party in the Mendhar sector in Poonch district. (ANI)