India and Pakistan make hotline contact after troop deaths

Directors general of military operations on both sides discussed the alleged ceasefire violation on LOC.


Afp August 07, 2013
An Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldier keeps watch at an outpost along the India-Pakistan border. PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: Indian and Pakistani commanders spoke by hotline Wednesday, a day after Delhi accused Islamabad of involvement in an ambush that killed five Indian troops, a Pakistani military official said.

Pakistan denied any part in the incident, but India lodged an official protest with Islamabad for what was the deadliest loss of life for the Indian army since a 2003 truce agreement.

A Pakistani military source told AFP that the directors general of military operations on both sides discussed the alleged ceasefire violation on the Line of Control (LoC).

"A special hotline contact was established this morning between DGMOs of the Pakistan and India armies to discuss the situation arising due to recent Indian allegations on the LoC," the source said.

Pakistan "strongly and categorically rejected" the allegations and lodged a "strong protest" over accusations that Indian fire seriously injured two Pakistani soldiers, the source added.

The Pakistani commander reiterated his side's commitment to the 10-year ceasefire agreement between the two nuclear powers.

Officials in Indian administered Kashmir said the attack took place late Monday at a military outpost in Poonch, around 200 kilometres south of the state capital Srinagar.

The picturesque Himalayan territory of Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan by the UN monitored LoC, the de facto border, but it is claimed in full by both countries.

The Pakistani foreign ministry said Islamabad was committed to the ceasefire in Kashmir and wanted a strengthening of existing channels to stop "such ill founded reports" in the future.

Hopes of progress in the beleaguered peace process have risen in recent weeks but Omar Abdullah, Indian Kashmir's chief minister, said the attack would undermine efforts at rapprochement.

 

COMMENTS (9)

Hamid Siddiqui | 10 years ago | Reply

@Alann: This is true that Indian brains are gone rot by watching too many baseless movies, in this incident of 5 Indian Soldiers getting killed while being on duty and the Pakistan is a suspect of being involved in this killing, let me ask Indians to use brain, see the politics in this and recall , why was Bombay attack orchestrated by Indian government officials themselves? And who was Involved in the planning? MODI the CM Gujrat. Why? To finish the main investigating officer of the SAMJHOTA EXPRESS incident, Mr Hemant Kerkare, who said the HINDUTVA is involved in Samjhota Express incident. Now is the time besides USA visa MODI is trying best to become the PM of India, he is against any constructive step taken by the present government, India and Pakistan are about to have a discussion for future peace and progress between to two countries and MODI do not like it.Please check Modi before blaming any one else.

Virat | 10 years ago | Reply

LOL

VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ