This file photo shows Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai, who will meet the Pakistani high commissioner. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
NEW DELHI: India summoned Pakistan's high commissioner Wednesday after two of its soldiers were killed in an alleged cross-border attack, the foreign ministry said.
“The Pakistan envoy has been summoned to meet with the Foreign Secretary (Ranjan Mathai),” ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin told AFP after India accused Pakistani troops of mutilating the body of one of the soldiers Tuesday.
Indian Defence Minister AK Antony said that Pakistan Army’s treatment of two Indian soldiers who were killed along the border in Kashmir was “inhuman”.
“Pakistan Army’s action is highly provocative. The way they treated the dead body of the soldiers, Indian soldiers, is inhuman,” he said.
“We will convey our protest to the Pakistan government and our DGMO (director general of military operations) will talk to his counterpart in Pakistan. They are closely monitoring the situation,” he told reporters.
India was to decide its response Wednesday after accusing Pakistan of killing two of its soldiers and mutilating one of the bodies along the tense border between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid said India would deliver a “proportionate response” to the “ghastly” killings in Kashmir on Tuesday which he said were designed to sabotage an already fragile peace process.
The Pakistani military meanwhile rejected what it called Indian “propaganda” that it said was aimed at diverting attention after a cross-border exchange at the weekend in which a Pakistani soldier was killed.
The two Indian soldiers died after a firefight broke out around noon as a patrol moving in foggy conditions discovered Pakistani troops about half a kilometre (1,600 feet) inside Indian territory, an army spokesman said.
A ceasefire has been in place along the Line of Control that divides the countries since 2003, but it is periodically violated by both sides.
“There was a firefight with Pakistani troops,” army spokesman Rajesh Kalia told AFP from the mountainous Himalayan region, confirming the names of the men as sergeants Hemraj Singh and Sudhakar Singh.
“We lost two soldiers and one of them has been badly mutilated,” he added, declining to give more details on the injuries.
“The intruders were regular (Pakistani) soldiers and they were 400-500 metres (1,300-1,600 feet) inside our territory,” he said of the clash in Mendhar sector, 173 kilometres (107 miles) west by road from the city of Jammu.
Indian reports and a military source speaking to AFP indicated that the mutilated soldier may have been decapitated, but further investigations and a post-mortem were required to confirm this.
Speaking on Indian television late Tuesday, Khurshid described the killings as “inhuman” and “not the way civilised people deal with each other”.
“We need to do something about this and we will, but it has to be done after careful consideration of all the details in consultation with the defence ministry,” Khurshid told the NDTV news channel.
“What will be done, in which manner, is something we will take a call on tomorrow.” Khurshid.
“It is absolutely unacceptable, ghastly, and really, really terrible and extremely short-sighted by their part,” he added, promising that the response would be “proportionate”.
“This seems like a clear attempt to derail the dialogue,” he added. “We have to find ways in which the dialogue is not sabotaged or destroyed.”
Relations between the neighbours had been slowly improving over the last few years following a rupture in their slow-moving peace process after the 2008 attacks on Mumbai, which were blamed by India on Pakistan-based militants.
In Islamabad, a Pakistan military spokesman denied what he called an “Indian allegation of unprovoked firing”, calling the Indian account “propaganda to divert the attention of the world from Sunday’s raid on a Pakistani post”.
Pakistan’s army says Indian troops crossed the Line of Control on Sunday and stormed a military post in an attack that left one Pakistani soldier dead and another injured.
It lodged a formal protest with India on Monday.
India denied crossing the line, but a foreign ministry spokesman said Indian troops had undertaken “controlled retaliation” on Sunday after “unprovoked firing” that damaged a civilian home.
The deaths deal a serious blow to efforts to ease tension in South Asia and improve diplomatic relations. Steps such as opening up trade and offering more lenient visa regimes have been a feature of recent high-level talks.
Muslim-majority Kashmir is a Himalayan region that India and Pakistan both claim in full but rule in part. It was the cause of two of three wars between the neighbours since independence from Britain in 1947.
The last major escalation in Kashmir occurred in 1999 in fighting that claimed the lives of more than 1,000 combatants on both sides after India accused Pakistani militants and troops of occupying strategic Indian peaks.
The last major mobilisation of Indian troops to its border with Pakistan took place in 2001 after an attack on the national parliament in New Delhi by five militants.
COMMENTS (57)
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@Skin Taj: UNMOGIP was flushed down the toilet at Simla in 1972. It is in no state to do anything. So wake up from this state of denial for once.
@Troll Terminator: lets see who sound funny just once we make up our mind then you'll see we'll decide which part to cut (after Bangladesh) lets wait and watch
May be It has to do with delaying of elections in Pakistan or Karzai visiting White House or Kayani asking for an extension.
@Rana: "Now Indians are shivering & fearing against much anticipated situation after 2014 with complete withdrawal US forces"
Delusional much? Was US in Afghanistan in 1965 when you started the war but had to run to UN for ceasefire? What about 1971? 1984? 1999?
Don't compare a professional army that has actually won wars to an army that only defeats its own civilians.
@Troll Terminator:
You can't even form a proper sentence and you are lecturing me about Afghanistan. Great.
TTP beheaded Pakistani soldiers recently. Few months ago, 8 or so soldiers were shot point blank(I hope you know what this term means. You language suggests you are Madrassah "educated") in the head. The video is still in circulation in YouTube. I would give you the link but I know its banned in Pakistan, so not going to bother.
My point is you bred snakes to hunt India, it started biting the hand that fed them. No sympathy from me.
You think after 2014 you will be somehow stronger. Tell me one good reason why US will not sanction Pakistan, oh genius one?
*ET please publish this comment as you have allowed the ones which are much more objectionable *
@bruteforce
To add further, the whole world has many times witnessed how incapable Pakistan army had been in handling large scale conflicts. In 47 they tried capturing Kashmir in guise of tribals but got whipped back when conflict became large. Again in 65,they hoped for a small conflict under operation Gibraltar but were severely embarrassed when India opened other fronts. Less said of 71,the better. In siachen India preempted their plans and showed them how small scale operations are successfully conducted but tribals as they are they learnt nothing and got whipped again in kargil.
The bottom line is all Pakistan army is trained in carrying out small ambushes here and there, but they become headless chickens when faced with big battles. Even afgans are much better. And Pakistan leadership knows this. Therefore I think it is the work of rebels, pro talibanis, within the army who are against kayani's recent efforts of bringing change. Don't be surprised if kayani is ousted or eliminated in near future and TTP or one of their ilk takes over. That will be cause of concern for India but not this poorly trained pakistani army. It's never been.
@Troll Terminator "Indian army would not dare to attack us, see what did you get in return for attacking our post on Sunday?"
USA or no USA entire World, India itself and even pakistan establistment knows what Indian army can do....your dare us not comment serves no purpose....dont talk in air keep facts before the table.
@BruteForce: Actually you are the real fool :) 2014 USA leaves Afghanistan then what is going to happen next? Kashmiris are already getting itchy, the mujhaidin's will jump in from within Kashmir & from Afghanistan ;) then the real game will start, Indian army would not dare to attack us, see what did you get in return for attacking our post on Sunday? don't act like your soap news, you sound funny.
@BruteForce: "I am astonished at the level of idiocy at display by the Pak Army. It is almost as if they want India to move its troops and TTP get a breather".
In face of thousands of Pakistanis dying at the hands of TTP, The Pak army leadership was forced to give a statement that it would focus on internal threats. But it does not have the appetite to go to NWA. Nor does it have the will to reorient its soldiers and wean them off years of hatred based on lies. Also it is difficult to convince people taught that they are warriors of Islam to fight people who call themselves Taliban.
This event is Christmas (or ID) for Kayani. He can enjoy his series 7 BMW without changing anything.
@bruteforce
To add further, the whole world has many times witnessed how incapable Pakistan army had been in handling large scale conflicts. In 47 they tried capturing Kashmir in guise of tribals but got whipped back when conflict became large. Again in 65,they hoped for a small conflict under operation Gibraltar but were severely embarrassed when India opened other fronts. Less said of 71,the better. In siachen India preempted their plans and showed them how small scale operations are successfully conducted but tribals as they are they learnt nothing and got whipped again in kargil.
The bottom line is all Pakistan army is trained in carrying out small ambushes here and there, but they become headless chickens when faced with big battles. Even afgans are much better. And Pakistan leadership knows this. Therefore I think it is the work of rebels, pro talibanis, within the army who are against kayani's recent efforts of bringing change. Don't be surprised if kayani is ousted or eliminated in near future and TTP or one of their ilk takes over. That will be cause of concern for India but not this poorly trained pakistani army. It's never been.
@Rana: Baluchistan will live. Not sure of Punjabi Pakistan.
No care.life and property but need implimentation of their agenda and rule directly or indirectly over the entire world .
Pakistan challenged the Indian army's allegations and said it is prepared to hold an investigation through the United Nations Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) into recent ceasefire violations along what is known as the Line of Control (LOC).
Getting back at Pakistan is pretty easy.
Consider this: India moves a few troops along the LOC. Pakistan is forced to move its troops from the tribal areas to the Eastern border. TTP gets a breather and takes over a large chunk of Pakistani Territory. Pakistani anti-insurgency back to square one.
India can move back its troops like 6 months later, rest assured that the TTP will kill a hundred more Pakistani Soldiers, in a much gruesome manner, than the number of Indian soldiers who have died yesterday, with no loss of life to a single Indian soldier.
I am astonished at the level of idiocy at display by the Pak Army. It is almost as if they want India to move its troops and TTP get a breather.
@Falcon: not fully agreed with the comments has come from Falcon.
Before expressing views,we should consider the existing the circumstances and the scenario attributed to the facts.
general election in Pakistan going to held in 2013, withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan in 2014.
You can describe it co incident but it is not,It is a planned formulated, because government of stooges has lost its popularity,there are no chances regaining power,coundown has begun. chancese of change are bright at highest level but looks not American favopurable so state depart want delay in election in Pakistan until respectfully repatriation of its forcrs from Afghanistan.
India is an American ally in the subcontinent,as history is witness,on the number of occasion it has provided unique assistance to the united states for enforcing its polices in the region.
@Sudhir: It took many years for PAK to admit the involvement of PAK non state actors and it is widely proven and admitted that sympathizers of these non state actors are in PAK army.
Beheading is a signature killing of one particular group in this region, and they have done it during Kaegil ( we all k ow who are all involved in Kargil), , later with Daniel Pearl, and recently with PAK soldiers.
Worrying fact is that the LOC perpetrators are from PAK army, the same way it happened in Salala incidence and denial by PAK army.
@all pakistanis... Cricket defeat cannot be compared with beheading of 2 soldiers. I seriously give a damn about defeat as it happens to a team in every game. Killing of soldiers with such brutality is not something to laugh about. I felt sad when many pakistani soldiers were killed at siachen due to natural causes or when 20+ pakistani policemen were killed by taliban few days back. But after reading views of pakistani readers, I feel you guys don't have a heart.
Another endian stunt to gain world's sympathies..huh...
All Indians dying to make their Govt wage a war on Pakistan are real fools. Even Afghanistan is giving a tough time to a superpower & your country is nowhere near a superpower! so keep on dreaming ;) Your media is renowned for cheap propaganda, let UN probe, wonder why does you media acts so foolishly? I still laugh to this day the way your news channels created a drama that how Indian army will oliberte Pakistan lol come up with something good, we are tired of your foolishness :)
These incidents will little ripple the water as usual. Not sure why Indians cry when they killed Pakistani soldier first. Pakistan allegedly did a little addition -mutilation- and beheading. Well done if you truely did it.. Indians are requested to convey a strong message and protest to Pakistan. Express anger in words like you always do. We will look at the matter further.
@syed baqar ahsan: to John B. " we have problem to show our professional skill." Yes indeed, it is a "problem to show our professional skill." when there is no evidence of any!
This was and should be expected. Whenever the two countries move forward even by an inch to bring any semblance of normalcy, elements within the Pakistan establishment go all out to disrupt it. India needs to tread this with caution. It should definitely respond to this grave provocation, but that response should be geared towards the unit that undertook this ghastly act. And like the US did, when it executed Salala, India should bide its time. But the trade and other CBMs should continue. I agree with Mr. Aiyer's formulation that the peace process must be made uninterruptable. The constituency of peace must be enhanced in both countries.
There won't be any outcome. Pakistan denies everything. Same they did when Kargil happened. And after 11 years they accepted that the Army was involved. And some fools over here are saying that India lost in some Cricket matches that's why India is doing all this. I don't understand if I should laugh or cry. May be it could happen in Pakistan, if an average Pakistani thinks like that.
@Vectra:
Dear, your ridiculously threatening comments represents the day dreaming cowardice mindset of whole India, you people have missed the vital period of godfather (US) presence with full backing to implement your dreams, but fortunately you people lacks the courage that possess a true warrior!! We are always ready, why to wait for???
@John B: Pakistan has offered to get the incident verified through third party. If India is sure that its troops have not violated the cease fire then it should agree to third party verification. Truth will be known to the entire world within 24 hours if the Pakistani offer is agreed to.
To me India is upset it got spanked in cricket and has decided to attack Pakistani solders and is now trying to cover its tracks by creating Propaganda.
@Rana:
We don't need the help of Americans or anybody for that matter to take on the likes of Pakistan Army. In fact didn't you run to Uncle sam in 1971. And what good did it do you? We still nailed you with a humiliating defeat. Your army gets butchered by a rag tag Islamic terrorists and you want to take on the mighty professional Indian Army. What have you been smoking?
pakistans provocation may bring it disastorous consequences and leave it a bad taste.India is upset and angry the way pakistan is keeping on violating and violated 2001 ceasefire agreement and geneva convention.India's mood of angryness can be seen from its summoning of pakistans high commisioner to India salman bashir to south block whereas pakistan summoned yesterday India's deputy high commisioner to pakistan.pakistan is playing with fire..this is a small incident for India though but a serious violation and grave provocation that is seen after kargil war.India is not going to tolerate since public pressure is growing on Indian govt.The sooner pakistan will understand this is better for them otherwise they may face severe consequencies which at this situation like prevailing insde pakistan it cannot survive India's retaliation.either fall in line or perish which as per many international think tank is a must for pakistan in case any future war with India.
Indians venting their anger on the border and on ET after the ODI defeats, even though we gave them a consolation win. Shows their little hearts at work again.
@Arijit Sharma:
Indians have encashed & enjoyed the presence of US in the region during the last 12 years. Now their godfather is leaving due to worst humiliating defeat of their history in which they have produced nothing against trillions of dollars. Drama of killing OBL in Hollywood style was the climax of this flop show which was not hard to achieve even by sending couple of CIA agents, but people back in the country which are addicted to science fiction ending may not be satisfied. India turns out to be the top beneficiary in the most expensive war against terrorism. Now Indians are shivering & fearing against much anticipated situation after 2014 with complete withdrawal US forces. Get ready India; it’s your turn to face the music! American & Indian collaboration has left no options to destroy Pakistan by bombing each and every corner of Pakistani cities in disguise of suicide bombing. Look here you idiots, even after all kind of destruction and label of failed state we are continue to survive without having appropriate backing and support. We are progressing towards an era where we need not to project ridicules Aman ki Asha anymore!! Dear Pakistan army, you have to do a lot of operational activities in coming days in true spirit. Long live Pakistan!!!!
Every country in this world keeps Army, but Pakistan's Army is the only army in the world which keeps a country.
Tit for tat firing which may result in gunshot death is one thing. Crossing the line of control to come and actually behead Indian soldiers is completely different.
As always this proves the lack of sincerity of Pakistani army chief when he says India is not the primary enemy in response to popular pressure to do do something about the terrorists. In reality there is a desire to keep the pot boiling since the appetite to reorient the army fed on false narratives and hatred is lacking.
Does it show desperation of some groups within pakistan army?
@Yoghurt lover: " ... Why would a soldier from a professional army behead its enemy soldier? ... "
Part of the PA thinks they are soldiers of Islam. They have different terms of engagement.
@John B: You are not right,what all plans USA/India/UK have for Pakistan one after other to happen then you will reach to right conclusion.They are determined by different means to declare us as a fail state then grab our nuclear assets,still they always fail in every act.It was India first who killed Pakistani soldier,as per their new plan this will grow,we will retaliate with full strength.Now American with Indian so we have problem to show our professional skill.WE HAVE SHOWN ONCE IN 2001-2002.
I am sure that rogue elements within our army dont want peace with India because they will go out of business
Neighbors, it was just a game. Didn't know you people would take the cricket defeat so seriously that started cross border firing. Very sad :).
The apt way to deal it to bring it to international arena,some sections of pak army in this election year wud want to apparently derail democratic process and also the dialogue process with india,international court of arbitration only way if pak army does not claim responsibility ,atleast have some sanctity for LOC,either accept LOC or fully dont accept ,double standards dont help either India or pak
@Yoghurt lover: Agree with your views. Enough is enough, India must respond to decades long cross-border terrorism and this brutal act which is un-acceptable.
The headline is so misleading. You would think Pakistan is a terrorist! :(
Come Indians, Else we are coming, Be Ready
It is a very sad case. The mutilation of the soldier's body happen because of the cold weather and not because of our soilders. We always tell truth. We have not told lie before and also will not tell lie in the future also. We will investigate the incident and make sure that all our phone lines / fax are shut down so that India cannot send any letter of condemnation to us. It is not that big deal as when ever there is a issue inside pakistan then create some problem at border so that the bewakoof awam will just forget about the internal problem and see some other side. Aman ki Asha with Pakistan :).
@Falcon: Rebels? You will find the Army professional enough to not have any.
@Yoghurt lover: India should not respond proportionately. India should respond disproportionately aggressively if Pakistan does not apologize." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Relations between countries cannot be based on apologies. An appropriate response is a must in order to avoid a repeat.
I think we should play more cricket matches....
The Americans will withdraw from Afghanistan completely. It would appear that they do not have the finances or the appetite to stay put any longer - much like the Soviets. Expect Kashmir to heat up in 2014 after the Americans leave. The interim period must be used by India to prepare for the mother of all wars.
Despite Gen. Kayani, the puppet head of pakistan army, wanting peace with eastern neighbor and protection of democracy in pakistan, seems like silent majority inside has now decided to rebel to maintain the status quo... all the best pakistan!!!
Why would a soldier from a professional army behead its enemy soldier?
However, if Pakistan apologies for this cowardly act, India should let it go this time (this is just my opinion) so as not to derail the ongoing CBMs.
We have seen the heroics of Pak soldiers in 1971 when they unleashed their professionalism on allegedly 200,000 women and then surrendering professionally to Indian men.
India should not respond proportionately. India should respond disproportionately aggressively if Pakistan does not apologize.
India attacked first, killing Pak soldier http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/national/07-Jan-2013/indian-troops-stage-cross-border-raid
So much for secular, liberal democracy.....!!! Indian bigotry on display!!!
Seems like pakistani army facing rebellion from within and Pakistan is on the verge of another martial law...
How can Salman Kurshid do to their brothers on the other side of the border?
This is really sad. It takes months to travel an inch towards peace and a stupidity to move back a mile. This is certainly not worth it. Pak Army should reign in rebels within its ranks that are trying to spark the situation.
Every time when PAK goes into election or when things are on the verge of normalization, there are elements in PAK who are determined to thwart the process.
I don't believe that PAK army as an institution is involved in the cross border business but certainly there is a support from within the elements at local levels for their own design.
Besides, it is winter and guns need to be in use to prevent them from freezing in the Himalayan cold!