Manmohan Singh says what has happened across the LoC is unacceptable. PHOTO: AFP/ FILE
NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh warned Tuesday that there "cannot be business as usual" with neighbouring Pakistan after last week's deadly flare-up along the border in disputed Kashmir.
"It cannot be business as usual" with Pakistan, he told reporters on the sidelines of an army function. "What has happened is unacceptable," he added in reference to the killing of two Indian soldiers, one of whom was beheaded.
Tensions between India and Pakistan were heightened last week by a series of cross-border exchanges in disputed Kashmir in which four soldiers were killed. India says that one of its soldiers was beheaded.
Firing and small skirmishes are common along the 740km LoC despite a ceasefire that was agreed in 2003. The Indian army says eight of its soldiers were killed in 2012, in 75 incidents of ceasefire violations.
COMMENTS (68)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
And no, India has not accepted Pakistan. If it had it would not have struggled to try and prevents Pakistan’s independence and would not have invaded Kashmir or East Pakistan
Ahh typical Pakistani textbook idiocy!
Pakistan got its Independence one day earlier than India, Independant india did not even exist when Pakistan was formed
Kashmir was an independant state before non state actors able supported by Pakistani army tried to invade it. The Maharaja asked for help which was given on the condition that kashmir joined India.
All wars and invasions were started by the Pakistani army including the 1971 war. Read independent sources and by Independent sources, I do not mean Pakistani textbooks.
The war is coming and many people will die. Be careful what you're saying because the blood would be on you too for what you are saying now! Work for peace and talk of peace!
@A2Z: read above...you guys do not have an iota of shame when taliban beheaded not one but 21 of your soldiers....you think India will keep quiet if you do that....
@Candid 1: end your "illegal and brutal" occupation of Balochistan before thinking of business as usual!!
Indian heads are much more valued than Pakitani heads - you thought India would react the same way as Pakistan does when the Taliban routinely beheads Pakistani soldiers? It is time for Pakistani soldiers to stand up and protest against their government and leaders.
A soldier has been martyred on LOC by indian shooting. India does not want peace
Again, we have an age-old ridiculous drama from the Indian leadership. Can we please ignore them for once? We have more important and pressing concerns at home and in the world. If India had any sense and interest in not getting a spillover from Pakistan, it would deescalate tensions instead of provoking them. When will India realize that a war doesn't take care of violence, it increases violence. You don't become "great" by being aggressive and playing the war-card. You only appear juvenile and naive. The world is a different place now...its not a stage for senile rivalries. India should first forcefully retaliate against its rapists and let Pakistan deal with its own problems, before it starts issuing ridiculous threats. Deal with your own problems...catch you criminals first, deal with your internal insurgencies first...deal with your poverty first and then think about going to war. Pakistan has more important problems at home to deal with...than these theatrics.
To all Indians here: If Pakistan is so terrible, why are you reading Pakistani news websites? Go read your propganda rags and live in your delusional dreams. And no, India has not accepted Pakistan. If it had it would not have struggled to try and prevents Pakistan's independence, and would not have invaded Kashmir or East Pakistan, so res ipsa loquitur. Take your self-serving lies and go pollute your own juvenile websites, and don't poke your nose in the adult and mature environment of ET.
Ohh except veena malik she can come
Well, world is not too small for Pakistan. After all were not involved in any sizable trade or finance with India that we are afraid of losing. We will still be watching their movies and our artist escaping to them. They, instead have lots and lots more to loose__ land, sea and air trade rout wise if it matters to them. Pak market is thirsty for goods and has lots of cash to dispense. The extremist will be happy they won few more days of radicalism. Only if India had not scared their own people so much from Pakistan this pathetic border skirmish tantamount to nothing of value comparatively.
@Terry: yes since Pakistan is ideal state with democratic setup and super economy :)
@Candid 1: Have you accepted Pakistan given the way Hazara and Shias are killed.??? You want a Pakistan that is clear and pure ...cleared off all the "impure" sects like shias and hazaras... Is that not the main problem??? Its confusing isnt it??
@Saima Cheema: Same with Balochistan..just ask what the locals want...
@Jibran: Can understand your anguish....nothing should be done to destabilise an elected Govt. All are happy to see the pak govt. complete its term... LOC trouble is short term Indian problem but a long term Pakistan problem.... peace with India will ensure a democratic support in pakistan. Those commenting here do not represent what is right for Pakistan but are more worried about what is right for their religion. Such a shame!!
Take not of the post from Candid...excellent - end of...
@Udaya Bose: yes we do, but i guess indians have not been able absorb its major wing cutoff and now chalenging it every now and then.
@observer I think candid 1 is talking about pakistani accepting pakistan. It seems there are still doubts.
@Hold your horses: please tell this to your chest thumping army chief and stupid ministers. we would love to take indians to war and unleash these animals on to you. that would be a great diversion.
....are you concerned about UNIFIED INDIA becoming irrelevant in the coming years.
There should be no relations with pakistan NONE period no trade/no cricket /no singers /NONE we have nothing to gain from them and this is how over 90% of indians feel except the congress leaders
@Candid 1:
Accept Pakistan, before expecting anything from Pakistan!
Take a deep breath and listen carefully.
A. Indian PM traveled to Minar-e-Pakistan.
B. He also visited the Tomb of Iqbal.
C. India has a High Commissioner in Pakistan.
D. India has given MFN status to Pakistan.
How else does India 'accept' Pakistan?
By saying Qubul hai, Qubul Hai?
@Asim Ali: India is impoverished. You are 100% right & as an Indian I do agree with you. Infact some parts are even "worse" than Africa (UN reports say that) BUT is Pakistan "well nourished". If yes then I'm glad we are impoverished as we don't have well nourished Taliban killing your own army. Yes we have "shameful" rapes same as you have brave "Malala". Just do a bit of research about crimes against women in Pak. Perhaps you would understand as a male what a woman goes through.
Dears, why we can't bury our differences and live peacefully. If Germany, France, England, Russia can live together peacefully, we need it even more, as we have more people to survive... Why not be it friendly-ways
@Terry:
Whoa! Thats amazing! You know this how?
@Asim Ali: Dear Asim Ali: Lets focus on Taliban Bomber who are walking in the streets across the Pakistan, Killing are children, sisters, and brothers. If they have some problems than we too have. First solve all our problem and than put blame on others.
finally "madam" let him speak!
Bhindian Trolls having a field day here on this blog. This is a golden opportunity for the weak Bhindian government to divert people attention from the corruption, mis-management of its ecocnmy and above all gain some points and strengthen its position for thee forthcoming election.
@AamShehri: "My own elder is a soldier, right now in a bunker on LOC. If he is killed in battle, I will be proud. But if he is beheaded, I will be furious."
Same feelings here brother, only difference its my younger brother who is Captain and posted at LoC (J&K). You have given words to what i felt. Nothing to add.
Peace!!!!
@Candid India created Pakistan. It's a expelled territory of India. India wants no part of it. Just keep your state and non-state actors , doing their activities, inside your Pak borders. Total dis-engagement and indifference towards Pakistan is the best policy.
Firstly incidences at LoC and now internal problems in Pakistan involving both military and judiciary are clear indications that who is behind the whole fiasco and what is its ultimate objective. Everything will be clear to Pakistanis in the next few days.
Things seem to be moving in a very planned way. The tensions are being created with a purpose and that is to destroy the slowly building peace between India and Pakistan. The sectarians and the army will never ever let this normalization happen. This normalization will mean loss of power for the army and loss of power for mullah brigade. Normalization will also mean that Muslims and Hindus can live together. So destroy the peace process.
Sorry Sir , We don't on wasting calories on how & what do u think Already pre-occupied with Long March & Sizzling Convictions
@Candid 1:
India accepts Pakistan. Does Pakistan accept India?
@Candid 1:
"Kargil would have never happened if India hadn’t sneakyly occupied Siachin Glacier"
Whats your excuse about the 1948 Kashmir invasion then ordered by Jinnah? Or, the 1965 war, with Operation Gibralter? They were operations meant to capture Territory, plain and simple, just like Kargil was. Don't give me all this rubbish..
Siachen is our Territory, as per the 1948 agreement. We can occupy or get down from there, its our choice..
http://www.kashmir-information.com/LegalDocs/KashmirCeasefire.html
To quote from the agreement, "Chalunka (on the Shyok River), Khor, thence North to the glaciers"
India wants this line to extend North, as per the agreement, but Pakistan wants it to extend East!!!
When did the word 'North' be taken to be meant as 'East'?
You can go through the agreement if you want and get a detailed map and get back to me with your findings.
Let me save you the trouble and tell you: "I am right, you are wrong". If you want to still go ahead, be my guest.
So tired of this, How about both sides finally solve the Kashmir problem and here's a thought... ask the Kashmiris what they want instead of deciding for them. Get the Kashmir problem out of the way and then you can talk about peace. At least things are better now than a decade ago when acts like these would have meant war. a UN investigation is the right way to because both countries don't trust each other.
@Asim Ali: This attitude does not suits those who are living on dollars gifted by others....We agree that we are living in poverty but atleast we have the self respect and we will one day come out of this poverty.....whereas if USA stops giving u those dollars you will be not more than Sudan, Kenya etc..
@What:
Aman Ki Asha is the only option, Sir.
In case of a conflict, India has more to lose. Our new infra worth few billions of dollars would be at stake. While Pakistan has hardly anything to lose...yes, it would be an opportunity for you to showcase your strategic assets who are fighting US in Afghanistan.
We can't afford to derail our progress by fighting with a basket case and that's precisely the reason why there is no flare up even after the ghastly beheading of a soldier. doesn't really matter whether it was Pak Army or the Jihadis who beheaded the Indian soldier, both are sides of the same coin...The only logical way for India to defeat Pakistan is by growing economically and rendering Pak irrelevant in few years.
Why does India expect business as usual when it continues to act with hostitlity against Pakistan, e.g., continued occupation of Kashmir, sponsoring separatists and terrorists in Pakistan, etc. First end your illegal and brutal occupation of Kashmir, before even THINKING of any business with Pakistan!!
@GrimmJow: Yet another example of Indian Bait & Switch tactic on display! India started the fight and killed a Pakistani soldier, and it was Pakistan that retaliated (and will also retaliate for another soldier that was killed later)! So don't pretend to be innocent, and wonder what India should do because there is only one thing India NEEDS to do, and that is get out of Kashmir.
@BruteForce: Kargil would have never happened if India hadn't sneakyly occupied Siachin Glacier, so don't come here and try another Bait & Switch because we can see right through it. The blame for the entire mess is India's congenital hatred of Pakistan's existence, and not on anything Pakistan Army allegedly did or didn't do. Accept Pakistan, before expecting anything from Pakistan!
@Mariam Jamal
Yeah right, you can’t accept the loss of your soldiers but can violate the LOC and kill our Jawans. Unreasonable Hindus.
Beheading is not acceptable in most non muslim countries.
As for Hindus being unreasonable, In case you have forgotten the Prime minister is a Sikh, head of the ruling party is a Christian, chief of army is a Sikh.
Unreasonable Pakistani Sunni
I think there is more to it than that meets the eye. How come both parties claim innocent . Is either of the parties foolish enough to start the first fire. Dont they know that the other party too is equally powerful. I think its some misunderstanding.
This is an old script written by the same shameless characters who were responsible for the events leading to 1971. They want to keep controlling the country with an iron first, and create situations to weaken the political governments. Just when we were nearing elections, all sorts of destabilization starts happening. This is not a coincidence.
@Khan:
It was to stop the infiltrators from sneaking in. If we count the number of Indian Jawans killed by infiltrators who are armed and trained by the Pakistani Army, I say we have been generous.
But, not any more. This stops today.
Considering we have most of the advantageous position along the LoC, I can promise you that the casualty rate will tilt in our favour.
When two sides don't trust each other, they go to an arbitrator. Pakistan has already called for investigation through UN, what is wrong with that? This non sense from Indians should stop now. Our soldier was killed first, now do they expect us to shower rose petals on them?
@Zehra:
Its not fishy at all!
Kargil happened when Nawaz Shariff and Vajayee were close to a deal. Not by India, but Pakistani Army.
Same with 2003, after Parliamentary attacks on India. Same with Mumbai 2008, when the new Govt was in place in Pakistan and things were going well with india.
So, until proven otherwise all blame points to the Pakistani army.
First of all both country need to understand their physical requirements.
My own elder is a soldier, right now in a bunker on LOC. If he is killed in battle, I will be proud. But if he is beheaded, I will be furious.
Battle has begun. Time to take no prisoners.
@Zehra
This time the reasons are not far to seek.
The oncoming elections in Pakistan (which Deep State does not want) Approaching 2014 witdrawal of US troops at which Deep state wants to cut its piece of cake. COAS is due for retirement so some reason or pretext is neede to force extension.Pakistanis are good at Josh, Jazba, Junoon and chest thumping.
When Lahore Declaration was signed, Kargil happened.
When Visa deal is signed and MFN has become due, LOC happens.
Any idea who could be behind all this?
Ehem excuse me! Was it not the Indian side that started all of this with their bunker building. And what about the Pakistani soldiers you have killed... For Pakistan it should be not business as usual with India!
Yeah no business as usual based on a lie. This is the level of trust the countries have.
The region has become a prime focus all of a sudden. Pakistan Army changes its operational priorities, India gets internal issues relating to recent events, this ceasefire issue come ups (not to forget the first killing was of Pakistani Solider), Qadri comes into play with Long March, SC orders arrest of the PM - What's Next?
miscreants are always there somewhere in mobs who doesn't want peaceful relations with Pakistan or India and also doesn't want MFN status to be given to India so they are making such scenerio to keep both countries far at arm length.
I totally support this decision...
Thank you very much.
Tum Roothay , Hum Chootay
“It cannot be business as usual” with Pakistan, he told reporters on the sidelines of an army function. “What has happened is unacceptable,” he added in reference to the killing of two Indian soldiers, one of whom was beheaded.
And Pakistan thought that India will take the beheading of its soldiers in the same way as Pakistan takes beheading of its by Taliban'!!!!
As if Pakistan cares :)
Well it was India who started the firing. What about the two Pakistani soldiers that were killed by Indian troops?
Not sure what is the right choice for India given attacks continue from across the border. Should India retaliate hard? If yes, then how far should it go? Although, the nuclear intervention is less likely, the possibility of a medium scale battle like Kargil cannot be denied.
Or should India try restraint so that the peace process does not come to a halt. If yes, then how given that the cross-border shellings continue...
Well I do hope, we don't see any large scale war. Amen!
India is finding excuses to esclate the situation to draw benefit out of Pakistan's prevailing internal turmoil.
Sir ,its normal we cut heads to show respect.
Yet our shameless liberals continue beating the drums of "Aman Ki Asha".
As if Pakistan is going to have a problem with your sentiments. Worry about your serial rapists patrolling the city of Delhi and your impoverished population living below the poverty line and the stink which is the aroma of your major cities
Its TOO FISHY that tensions along the border escalate whenever the two sides get close to a peace treaty