A clash between Indian Army and a “large number” of militants has been going on for the last nine days near the Line of Control. The latest infiltration occurred just as Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan were preparing to meet in New York for the highest level talks between the two countries in three years.
Earlier on September 26, Gen. Singh had claimed that 10 to 12 bodies, those of infiltrators, were seen by the troops in the forested Kupwara area where the fighting was still raging. But no bodies have been recovered, so far. When asked for an explanation, Let. Gen. Singh said, “Retrieving bodies of dead terrorists is of no consequence to us.” He also said the thick forest and rocky terrain in Keran is challenging and that Indian troops won’t “hurry the operation” as it could increase casualties.
The clashes between the Indian Army and the alleged infiltrating militants is taking place in the backdrop of talks between the two Prime Ministers on Sunday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York at which they agreed to take steps to maintain calm along the LoC and restore the ceasefire in place along the de facto border since November 2003. The tensions along the LoC have been at the centre of attention between India and Pakistan since February 2013.