Indian forces claim destroying Pakistani bunker in retaliatory action over soldiers’ mutilation

Bunker was destroyed along LoC in less than 60 seconds, says Indian media

A week after India claimed Pakistan Army killed two Indian soldiers and mutilated their bodies along the Line of Control (LoC), the Indian forces claimed, on Monday, to have destroyed a military bunker on the Pakistani side of the border.

“An exclusive video footage shows a Pakistani bunker along the LoC was destroyed post mortar fire near the Krishna Ghati sector,” claimed Times Now, an Indian news channel. It said the bunker was destroyed in less than 60 seconds in what appears to be the Indian retaliation against the alleged mutilation of its soldiers’ bodies -- a charge Pakistan Army denies.

The development came days after Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat indicated retaliatory action against the Pakistani forces over the alleged incident. Without directly replying to questions, Rawat said, “We do not talk about future plans beforehand. We share details after execution of the plan.”

Four civilians injured as Indian forces target village with mortars along LoC

The Indian Army had, on Wednesday, said it will retaliate against Pakistani forces’ alleged mutilation of Indian soldiers’ bodies at a time and place of its choosing. “Pakistani forces have done the killing and mutilation, they have to take responsibility and face the consequences”, The Hindu quoted Vice-Chief of the Army Staff Lt Gen Sarath Chand as saying. Chand said the Indian army would not discuss its plans in public.

Relations between India and Pakistan have plummeted since a deadly attack on an Indian army base in the disputed region of Kashmir in September, 2016, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed. There have since been repeated outbreaks of cross-border firing, with both sides reporting deaths and injuries.