India talks tough- "Cannot be business as usual", says PM; Army Chief warns Pakistan of retaliation15/01/2913
Indian Army on Monday lodged a strong protest with Pakistan army over the killing of two of its jawans, one of whom was beheaded, and continued ceasefire violations along the LoC in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir. During a Brigadier-level flag meeting that concluded at Chakan-Da-Bagh in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, India also asked Pakistan to respect the ceasefire that the two nations have mutually agreed upon.
The Pakistan Army claimed that its troops did not kill Indian soldiers, and lodged its counter protest about ceasefire violations even as Indian Army Chief General Bikram Singh sent a tough tactical message, saying all commanders at the LoC have been asked to retaliate if provoked by the enemy. The Pakistani delegation leader denied their involvement in the incident and reiterated the false and fabricated allegations that the Indian troops crossed the Line of Control and killed one Pakistani soldier and injured another.
"The flag meeting between brigade commanders of India and Pakistan started around 1300 hours and ended at 1332 hours at Chakan-Da-Bagh Crossing-Point in Poonch sector", a senior Army officer said. The Indian team was led by 10th Brigade (Krishnaghati Brigade) Commander Brig T S Sandhu in the meeting with the Pakistan brigade commander at Chakan da Bagh Crossing Point along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district. The meeting was preceded by some tough talk by the Indian Army Chief who described the beheading of an Indian soldier as unacceptable and said he had asked his commanders to strike back if Pakistan continued to violate the ceasefire. Earlier, General Singh warned Pakistan against any misadventure along the LoC, saying that all commanders have the full backing of the Army hierarchy and they need to maintain an aggressive stance. The Army Chief said the Pakistani troops had “pre-planned and pre-meditated’’ the action and asserted that India reserves the right to retaliate at a “time and place of its choice.’’ “We will uphold the ceasefire as long as adversary upholds it but we will not be passive when provoked or fired at,’’ he added. “Beheading of a soldier is gruesome, unacceptable and most unpardonable,’’ General Singh said while referring to the January 8 incident in Mendhar sector of Poonch area in Jammu region where an Indian Army patrol party was ambushed by Pakistani troops who had crossed over to the Indian territory. He applauded the Indian Army Commanders at the LoC, saying they did a "great job". Regretting the beheading incident, he said the Indian Army would have never indulged in such type of acts. "We give respect to enemys' bodies. This is our value and you have seen this during Kargil war," he said. In a tough message to Pakistan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said it cannot be business as usual in the aftermath of the "barbaric" beheading of Indian soldier as India put on hold the visa-on-arrival facility and sent back home all nine Pakistani hockey players. "After this barbaric act, there cannot be business as ususal with Pakistan". "Those responsible for this crime will have to be brought to book". |
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