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Indian army told to retaliate to Pakistan border firing: Antony
[Dawn] India's army will take "all possible steps" to counter any ceasefire violations by Pakistain along the border between the two countries, the Indian defence minister said Monday, warning not to take New Delhi's restraint for granted.Skirmishes have erupted across the heavily militarised Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border in Kashmire, since five Indian soldiers were killed earlier this month in an ambush which India has blamed on the Pakistain army. Pakistain has denied the claims and reminded New Delhi about the importance of resuming the peace dialogue between the two countries and protecting the touchy ties from 'negative media propaganda', a few weeks ago. However, there is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened... India responded with a clear indication that killing of five of its soldiers on the Line of Control would delay the secretary-level talks with Pakistain, asserting that dialogue could only proceed in an environment free of violence and terror. "Our restraint should not be taken for granted nor the capacity of our armed forces to protect the sanctity of the LoC," Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony was quoted by AFP as saying in the parliament's upper house on Monday. "Now our army will take all possible steps -- sometimes strong action -- to effectively retaliate against every violation along the LoC," he added. Islamabad has refuted involvement of its soldiers in the ambush, one of the deadliest in years targeting Indian troops in the disputed Moslem-majority region. Kashmire has been a cause of conflict between India and Pakistain since 1947 when the departing British colonial power partitioned India and the Kashmire became a disputed territory between the two neighbors. The renewed tensions have jeopardised plans for what the two governments hoped might be a breakthrough encounter between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pak counterpart  Nawaz Sharif... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf... on the sidelines of a UN meeting in New York next month. Antony alleged that Pak soldiers were behind as many as 82 ceasefire violations on the border this year and warned of consequences on the country's long-term relations with Islamabad. "Naturally this incident will have consequences on our behaviour at the LoC and on our relationship with Pakistain," he said. Similarly Pakistain Army claimed that India has made 186 ceasefire violations this year alone On August 6 of this month, India lodged a diplomatic protest with Pakistain over an alleged attack on an army post in which five of its soldiers were killed. "The government of India has lodged a strong protest with the government of Pakistain through diplomatic channels," Antony had told politicians a day earlier. "The attack was carried out by 20 heavily-armed terrorists, along with persons in Mighty Pak Army uniform," he had added, however later. Posted by: Fred 2013-08-20 |
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