The Indian Army said that at the flag meeting with the Pakistan Army at Chakan-da-bagh, in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir, “it was conveyed to the Pakistan delegation that such a dastardly and cowardly act is totally unacceptable and is a premeditated attempt to undermine the ceasefire agreement of 2003, which can lead to further escalation.”
“It was conveyed in no uncertain terms that repetition of such acts will not be tolerated and the Indian Army reserves the right to retaliate at the place and time of our own choosing in case they recur,” the Army said.
“Our representative expressed our grave concern over the barbaric act by Pakistani troops in the recent ambush of our patrol in Mendhar sector. The Indian Army raised a strong protest against the heinous mutilation of our deceased soldiers’ bodies, pointing out that it was against the tenets of the Geneva Convention as also in contravention to all established norms of soldierly behaviour,” the Indian Army said.
“The Pakistani delegation leader denied their involvement in the incident, denying any ceasefire violations by their troops, and reiterated the false and fabricated allegations that our troops crossed over the LoC and killed one Pakistani soldier and injured another. Their response was on expected lines wherein they stated that no ceasefire violation has been initiated by their troops. The situation along the LoC is being closely monitored and necessary vigil is being maintained by our own troops,” the Indian Army said.
Army chief Gen. Bikram Singh too said on Monday that there was no intrusion by Indian troops on January 6 and that the Pakistan Army’s allegation was false and levelled by them in order to justify their cross-border raid.
In Islamabad, Army officials said Pakistan has demanded that India abide by the ceasefire agreement with regard to Kashmir. They also claimed that on Monday itself a Pakistani citizen in Battal sector, in Rawlakote area facing Krishnaghati sector in Poonch, was injured in the latest round of “unprovoked” firing by Indian troops.