In a two-pronged diplomatic and Army offensive, India on Tuesday lodged a strong protest with Pakistan over killing of three Indian soldiers in Sunderbani in Rajouri on Sunday during a suspected Border Action Team(BAT) raid by Pakistani infiltrators. While the External Affairs Ministry summoned a senior official of Pakistan High Commission here to issue a demarche on the matter, the weekly talks between offices of Directors General of Military Operations(DGMO) saw the Army lodging protest over the killings despite the two countries deciding to maintain peace on the Line of Control (LoC) in May this year.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in a statement, said it also condemned in the strongest terms such a provocative action by Pakistan, which revealed the neighbouring country’s complicity in aiding and abetting terrorism and exposed the hollowness of its deceitful claims of promoting a constructive engagement with India and desire for peace.
The Pakistan High Commission official was summoned to the MEA and a demarche was made, lodging a strong protest over the loss of lives of Indian soldiers during the cross-border infiltration bid by Pakistani terrorists in the Sunderbani sector on October 21, the statement said.
“It was informed that two Pakistani armed intruders have been killed by the Indian security forces during the ensuing firefight and the government of Pakistan should take custody of the dead bodies of its nationals,” the MEA said.
Two heavily-armed Pakistani intruders and three Indian soldiers were killed in a gunfight on Sunday after the Army foiled the infiltration bid along the LoC in the Sunderbani sector. The Army on the same day had also warned Pakistan to restrain the terrorists operating from its soil besides asking Pakistan to take back the bodies of two intruders. Pakistan, however, is yet to respond.
India also conveyed to the Pakistani side on Tuesday its grave concern over the continuing incidents of unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Pakistani forces along the LoC and the International Border (IB).
“Despite repeated calls for restraint and adherence to the ceasefire understanding of 2003 for maintaining peace and tranquillity, Pakistan forces have carried out 1,591 incidents of unprovoked ceasefire violations along the LoC and IB in 2018 so far,” the MEA said.
Pakistan was also asked to abide by its bilateral commitment not to allow any territory under its control to be used for supporting terrorism against India in any manner, it added.
Meanwhile, during the DGMO office level talks on the hotline between the two sides, an Indian Brigadier conveyed similar sentiments to his Pakistan counterpart. The talks lasted for about 10-15 minutes and Pakistan is expected to come back on the issue next week, sources said.
Explaining the rationale for protest, they said the two DGMOs during their talks on May 29 at the behest of Pakistan decided to maintain peace and the Line of Control(LOC). India at that time also urged the Pakistan Army to restraint terrorists operating from its soil. Since then, the Indian Army has shown utmost restraint in maintaining ceasefire at the LOC despite provocations by the other side and Pakistan continuing to aid and abet terrorists, they said.
As regards the Pakistan Army actions despite talks on May 29, they said the Pakistan Army is persistently attempting to push terrorists from its territory into India across the LOC. Backing this with figures, officials said seven infiltration bids were foiled by the Army since May 30, in which 23 terrorists have been killed.
Moreover, reports indicated concentration of large number of terrorists in the launch pads desperate to infiltrate before the onset of snow. At least 250 to 300 trained and armed militants are poised to sneak into Kashmir from the launch pads close to the LOC in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir(POK). The Army troops are alert and maintaining round-the-clock vigil to scuttle any attempt of infiltration by the terrorists.