Pakistan rejects Indian claim of ‘tit-for-tat’ operation

Says Pakistani troops were martyred through IEDs placed by ‘non-state actors’

ISLAMABAD: While accusing the Indian Army of resorting to unprovoked firing in order to provide cover to the 'non-state actors', the Foreign Office on Tuesday strongly rebutted claims that Indian soldiers crossed the Line of Control (LoC) to kill three Pakistani soldiers in the Rakhchikri sector a day earlier.

The Indian Army on Tuesday morning claimed that a small team of its commandos crossed the de facto border on Monday to kill Pakistani troops in an act of revenge.

Indian media reports claimed that the limited ‘tit-for-tat’ operation was carried out to avenge the killing by Pakistan of four Indian soldiers, including a major at Keri in Rajouri sector on Saturday afternoon.



Pakistan, however, strongly contested the Indian claims by suggesting that India resorted to unprovoked firing to provide a cover to ‘non-state actors’ who planted the Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) that resulted in the martyrdom of the three soldiers.

As the foreign office summoned the acting Indian deputy high commissioner to lodge a formal protest over the latest ceasefire violation, the South Asia & SAARC Director General Dr Mohammad Faisal also rejected the Indian claims that there was any crossing of the LoC by the Indian forces.

“The Indian actions got a befitting response from the Pakistani side and their guns were silenced,” said a statement issued by the foreign office. “The false claims by India about the alleged cross-LoC adventures are a figment of their imagination and counter-productive for peace and tranquility on the LoC.”



Separately, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major Gen Asif Ghafoor also rejected Indian claims that any Indian soldier crossed the LoC on Monday evening. “Indian media claim is continuation of their self-defeating projections to satisfy domestic audience,” he said in a tweet.

The latest controversy came as both the countries are engaged in a diplomatic spat over the meeting of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav with his wife and mother on Monday at the foreign office.

A day after the meeting, India accused Pakistan of not treating the Jadhavs with respect and violating the understanding reached between the two sides on the meeting.



The Indian External Affairs Ministry in a statement said prior to the meeting, the two governments were in touch through diplomatic channels to work out its modalities and format. There were clear understandings between the two sides and the Indian side scrupulously abided by all its commitments.

“However, we note with regret that the Pakistani side conducted the meeting in a manner which violated the letter and spirit of our understandings.”

It alleged that the Pakistani press was allowed on multiple occasions to approach family members closely, harass and hector them and hurl false and motivated accusations about Shri Jadhav. “This was despite a clear agreement that the media would not be allowed close access.”



The statement also accused that under the pretext of security precautions, the cultural and religious sensibilities of family members were disregarded. “This included removal of mangal sutra, bangles and bindi, as well as a change in attire that was not warranted by security.”

“The mother of Jadhav was prevented from talking in their mother tongue, although this was clearly the natural medium of communication. She was repeatedly interrupted while doing so and eventually prevented from proceeding further in this regard.”

It also claimed that the deputy high commissioner was initially separated from family members who were taken to the meeting without informing him. The meeting was started without his presence and he could join only after pressing the matter with concerned officials. Even then, he was kept behind an additional partition that did not allow him access to the meeting as agreed.



“For some inexplicable reason, despite her repeated requests, the shoes of the wife of Shri Jadhav were not returned to her after the meeting. We would caution against any mischievous intent in this regard,” the Indian External Affairs Ministry said.

It further insisted that from the feedback they had received of the meeting, it appeared that Jadhav was under considerable stress and speaking in an atmosphere of coercion.

“Most of his remarks were clearly tutored and designed to perpetuate the false narrative of his alleged activities in Pakistan. His appearance also raises questions of his health and wellbeing.”



Pakistan, however, strongly rejected the Indian allegations as baseless.

“The Indian baseless allegations and twists, that come 24 hrs later, about the visit of the wife and mother of Commander Jadhav, a convicted terrorist and spy, who has confessed to his crimes, are categorically rejected,” said the statement issued here by the foreign office. “We do not wish to indulge in a meaningless battle of words. Our openness and transparency belies these allegations,” it added.

The statement, however, pointed out that if Indian concerns were serious, the guests or the Indian DHC should have raised them during the visit, with the media, which was readily available, but at a safe distance, as requested by India.

“The fact is that Commander Jadhav’s mother publicly thanked Pakistan for the humanitarian gesture. This was recorded by the media,” it said. “Nothing more needs to be said,” the statement concluded.