Indian soldiers had ambushed and killed two Pakistani Rangers who had travelled to attend a flag meeting hosted by India. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD: A couple of days after two Rangers were killed in Indian firing along the working boundary, Pakistan lodged a protest with India and sought a probe into the incident.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz in a letter to Indian Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj lodged a formal protest on the killing of the two soldiers in the Zafarwal Sector. The move comes a day after a protest had been lodged with the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad.
On December 31, Indian Border Security Force (BSF) troops invited personnel of the Punjab Rangers for a flag meeting. However, the Rangers were greeted with a volley of unprovoked fire, leaving them fatally injured.
Aziz, in his letter, condemned the action of the Indian BSF and lodged a strong protest with the government of India.
In the letter, the advisor also called for an immediate investigation into the incident as well as bringing the perpetrators to account.
The letter underlines that the regrettable ambush of the soldiers would undermine mechanisms established by the two countries to ensure peace and tranquility along the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary (WB).
The adviser’s letter was handed over to the Indian High Commissioner by foreign secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry.
Indian High Commissioner summoned by Foreign Secretary today & handed over letter of protest by Adviser to Indian External Affairs Minister
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) January 2, 2015
Ambush a breach of trust
While handing over the letter, Chaudhry expressed concern at the way the incident took place. He underlined that the incident was not only in contravention to the rules of engagement, but also amounted to breach of trust of Pakistani soldiers in these mechanisms.
The foreign secretary also impressed upon the Indian High Commissioner that it was not in Pakistan’s interest to increase tension along the LoC or the WB, adding, “Our law enforcement agencies and armed forces were fully engaged in combating terrorism and militancy across the country. The Indian insinuations that Pakistan supported infiltration attempts were, therefore, far removed from reality.”
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took notice of the condemnable Indian aggression.
Heads of P-5 missions, EU briefed
Separately, foreign secretary briefed the heads of the missions of P-5 countries and the EU in Islamabad about the incident, and emphasised the importance of maintaining ceasefire on the LoC and WB.
Keeping in view the seriousness of Indian violation of norms, Foreign Secretary also briefed the Heads of P-5 and EU Missions in Islamabad
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) January 2, 2015
He stressed the urgency of the international community playing its role in counselling India to refrain from actions that threaten peace and stability in the region.
COMMENTS (27)
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@Striver - "You do not call someone to a meeting and then kill them when they arrive. "
Who told you this lie? Your army's credibility is at an all time low after OBL was found in their camp. Obama is visiting India on 26th Jan and your establishment unable to bear this, is raising the heat by provoking us. Get to the bottom of this episode... Have courage to handle the truth... Will help prevent Peshawar like episodes in the near future...
@Striver, with zero credibility you want the world to believe you?. Remember Uncle Osama ?
@Milind:
Try these cowards and we will believe you. You do not call someone to a meeting and then kill them when they arrive. This is what your cowards did. Do not let your nationalism blind you to the truth.
@Shaukat Ali, Nice words but the fact is these are merely words & there is no tangible action from Pakistan to stop terror towards India. That's the only reason why India hates Pakistan. If Pakistan is really serious & believes in humanity & peace with all her neighborhood then please first arrest that thug who openly spew venom against India. If you cannot without any firm legal ground then at least stop all activities ie militant camps around LOC and have strict control on all militant organizations which create terrorism in India. Inshallah, there will be peace & most importantly both sides will come together, creating positive envoirnment & solve Kashmir issue through dialogue.
Pakistan will always remain headache to world peace because terrorists in Pakistan are cherished like they are their own children.
@wb I stated ''This means the rangers were on border line when killed.Who without any point come to border line.BSF called them thats why they were there..While all Pak rangers were at the back'' These rangers who were on border line were called by BSF for flag meetings and then fired at them.2 were injured and later died...they didnt at the moment.......There were 2( not 4...the society whose people are killed... Soldiers also attend flag meetings @Rajendra It was a boat of smugglers of diesel no terrorism threat http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2015/01/india-says-pakistani-boat-exploded-off-coast-201512143730413165.html
@India we being Pakistani public ask one question that is ''if we see the around the world civilised and develop countries bilateral relationship specially with neighbours is totally opposite from them Indian'' the LoC violence more than (570) including flag meeting is not in favour of both Pakistan and India. Look at American neighbours? They want peace and India wants violence in his neighbours countries. Other side Pakistan constantly believe on brotherhood policy till date for the territorial peace in the region to bring power equilibrium in the world for peace as well. These violences are not the solutions to become week Pakistan or any country. We Pakistani love humanity we respect humanity so Indians PM should response through humanitarian ground.
Striver/Assad - Stop whining!!! Atleast, the guilty soldiers from our army have been punished and court-martialed before. Unlike your rogue army which committed massacres and rapes in 1971 and continues to bomb innocents in Waziristan & Baluchistan.
Come on! Who is responsible for that boat carrying arms to India!!! Say It was an Indian boat.
Why do you under rate the life of somebody who is not Pakistani! I do respect Pakistanis. And do expect that a Pakistani should also respect me as an Indian.
@Haider:
"This means the rangers were on border line when killed.Who without any point come to border line.BSF called them thats why they were there..While all Pak rangers were at the back….."
You debunked your own lie.
If rangers have no point to come to border, why were the dead bodies at the border in the first place? Did a crow picked up the bodies from where they died and dumped them near the border?
The fact is India retaliated and 4 Pakistanis died. Now, your leadership have no way to show face to the public, so they build an illogical lie that India cheated them and killed them.
Now that the Pakistanis were beaten on there own game ... This is a good excuse ... a typical Pakistani denial ... Next time the Pakistanis will have to correct themselves saying that Flag meeting was conducted between officers and not Jawans...And the people killed were Major or a Colonel ...
@Pranav Flag meetings can be held at any level.This time called by local commander of BSF..Tuesday is a day of flag meetings btw India and Pak....any story can be correct.This is what makes me think why Indian side is not correct...IBNLIVE stated
"BSF to stop the firing so that they could lift the bodies of their dead men. Honouring their request, the BSF stopped the firing and allowed them to come to the border line and lift the bodies"
This means the rangers were on border line when killed.Who without any point come to border line.BSF called them thats why they were there..While all Pak rangers were at the back..... Secondly they were not bodies They were injured and died later....BSF states they killed while 2 rangers are killed.It happened on tuesday which is a day of Flag meeting
@Pranav:
Exactly. Pakistanis lies are as always unbelievable. Soldiers don't go for flag meetings.
Low level officers attend these meetings.
As always, Pakistanis have no sense of logic and they don't know how to build a narrative even around a lie.
Wasn't it the same Pakistan which claimed that kasab wasn't a Pakistani until a press team interviewed his family inside Pakistan? No wonder no one believes it.
First, the one who sent letter has no credibility. 2nd, Indian army is subjected to investigation as per laws and if found guilty, are punished also. Unfortunately that's not the case on other side of border. Hence I don't agree with letter. Does letter mentions how Indian solider was died first?
@Pranav: DGMOs from both sides sit in the flag meetings.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/two-pakistan-rangers-killed-in-firing-as-india-foils-major-infiltration-bid/article1-1302777.aspx
two more rangers died last night
We need to send Zaid Hamid for next flag meeting.
I am Indian and I have heard completely other side of story, which might well be wrong. I don't know which story is correct.
But I have one simple question, do India and Pakistan have flag meetings in between soldiers ?
I was under impression that flag meetings are held between high level officers.
If the Pakistani narrative is true, this is very regrettable. Having said that, this is not the way BSF typically behaves, so there is more to the story than meets the eye.
I have see a lot of Pakistan bashing on mainstream Indian TV, however I have never seen those discussions gravitating to the level of insulting Musalmans. However, mainstream Pakistani anchors openly demonize Hindus when bashing India, WHY ? Can't you differentiate between state and an individuals religion ?
Striver:
I couldn't agree any more!
India's populace is well on its way to become extremists. Constant poking, Muslim and christian conversions, Anti-muslim police drills, are all the required indicators. Soon it will be us asking India to control its militants and infiltrators.
I don't Get it. I just don't get it. here in our newspapers we get entirely different news, there was nothing about ambush. Am not saying our is true but how cud one possibly clarify what actually happened.. Everyday we read Rangers fired unprovoked, and here news is just opposite.. I always moderate minded so, am not saying am true or you are but one should stop judging just by reading newspapers..
@Striver and whats-up with connecting things to Hinduism man, come on man!! Those who attacked in Peshawar were not Muslims, don't link everything with religion.
completely agree with Striver!
Only cowards do this and the Hindutva soldiers have proved how cowardly they are. This is the BSF for you. Part time rapists; part time soldiers.
Who invites soldiers to a meeting and then fires a hale of bullets when they arrive for the meeting Only BSF. Only BSF. The scums of this earth.
Our political masters are spineless buffoons. Get rid them for God's sake.
There is no point in asking others to council India. The current indian political set up is beyond counselling; a lost cause. Modi is RSS. BJP is RSS. The people he has put at the helm of important institutions are RSS inspired. It is clear therefore that Indians are itching for a fight because they think they have the Pakistanis at their weakest.
Take action. Finish off these worms.
I expect ET not to publish this. We all seem to be Indian friendly. Can we be Pakistan friendly for a change?
So the lives of those soldiers are only worth condemnation Sartaj Aziz ?
It's an absolute shame that the bully of subcontinent "India", is not being taught a lesson, which you ought to give them with a befitting response be it via guns, or cut off diplomatic ties!
I'm a Pakistani, and as far as I'm concerned life of my fellow country men in not cheap sir!