India has rejected Pakistan’s proposal for a United Nations (UN) probe into the chain of killings along the Line of Control (LoC) that began on Sunday morning and led to the killing of two Indian soldiers on Tuesday.
The Indian response was to a Pakistani suggestion for investigating the incidents by the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) which is present on both sides of the LoC.
But high-level sources said the brutality with which the Indian soldiers were killed on Tuesday will be taken up with Pakistan through back channels. “If you stand up and start shouting, Pakistan Army will never agree. There are other ways of approaching them on the issue,” they said.
The Indian Government’s reaction came before news came of a Pakistani soldier being killed on Thursday but sources said the stand remained unchanged.
“We are certainly not going to agree to internationalise the issue or allow the UN to hold an inquiry. That demand is obviously rejected out of hand,” Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said at a news conference after taking part in meetings of the Union Cabinet and the Cabinet Committee on Security which was briefed by Defence Minister A. K. Antony.
“We take a serious view of what happened. Whatever has to be done will be done,’’ added Mr. Chidambaram while describing the decapitation of an Indian soldier as brutal.
At another news conference, National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon said there had been an increase in ceasefire violations and infiltration attempts. “In 2012 there was an increase overall over 2011. That is a fact. And that is something we are dealing with, both ourselves and with the Pakistani authorities,’’ he said.
Mr. Menon referred to Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid’s statement and said “he has made it quite clear that he is not jumping to any conclusions at this moment. So, I suggest you wait.”
Asked about the beheading of an Indian soldier, Mr. Menon said, “[the] Government has said what it has to say on the event. You have a selection of adjectives — reprehensible, barbaric, dastardly, whatever you want. Sadly, it is not the first time this has happened. I hope it never happens again. But we have also told you exactly what we intend to do. So, now I think you should let Government go about its business.”
Both India and Pakistan have denied the involvement of their troops. India has said its troops indulged in “controlled retaliatory fire” early on Sunday morning and denies Islamabad’s allegation that Indian troops crossed the LoC to kill a soldier and seriously injure another.
Similarly Pakistan denied any hand in Tuesday’s incident in which two Indian soldiers were killed whereas New Delhi says Pakistani troops crossed the LoC and utilised the poor visibility due to dense fog to ambush a patrolling party.
Separately, the army clarified in reference to The Hindu story ‘Runaway grandmother sparked savage skirmish on LoC’ that Maj. Gen. Khandare and not Maj. Gen. G.S. Rawat is currently the General Officer Commanding of 19 Infantry Division. The army also denied that any permission was ever sought by the GOC for aggressive action against any Pakistani post.
Keywords: Pakistan ceasefire violation, Pakistan Army ambush, India-Pakistan border, Line of Control, Indian soldiers death, LoC violation, Indo-Pak ceasefire, soldier's mutilation, Indo-Pak border, infiltration, Indo-Pak talks
"Indian Government rejected demand for UN probe" Why ?
Equally amusing is the fact that trouble started when it was the worst time for our rulers. Sensitive news headlines by most of our media helped divert the peoples attention from the real issues prevailing in India today. This kind of tactics are not good for our country.
The rejection is perhaps due to the fear and guilt complex that their
(India's) own violation of cease fire by making a construction of
outpost without consent or information to the other side may be found
out and censured. Certainly 'dal mein kuch kala dikhta hai'. I also
mourn and condole the deaths of our soldiers but on the other side also
some soldiers were killed. Is all this senseless killing necessary? Why
can't we come to more peaceful and saner terms?
This type of barbaric killing cannot be expected from Soldiers. This is
done by the terrorists of Pakisthan who want to spoil the Indo Pak
relation and the ongoing dialogues. Eye for eye concept makes only every
one blind as Mahathma Gandhi taught us. Let Pak solve their own
problems, with the help of U.S then everything will become alright.
However it is highly appreciated India's matured stand which
international community will understand.
I pray one day our Indian government & Military gets an eye & Heart donor...from which they can not only see but feel the pain of one wife, one children and one honest son who sacrificed his life for the safety of Nation. But in turn nothing happened against his sacrifice. if this will run everyday then no one will join Indian army. after all everyone love thier self respect. But yes I would appreciate if youth like Rahul gandhi (currently politician)and many other... join Indian Army rather then joining politics. and later see if any potician son dies in war what action would our honorable ministers take. I still believe that they we will be Silent. Reason is very simple that India is A Democratic country
Ms Rabani speaks with a forked-tongue. The very act of killing an Indian soldier was breaking the peace and she wants India to show committment for peace.
Ms Rabani get your house in order before sermonising.
Till how much Time these sort of things will be taken into "ease"
within our country. India despite of calling itself in world the most
intelligent powerhouse of the world but till how much time we will be
taking ourselves away from the history our country has had. The amount
of negotiations that could have been done have been done. India needs
to have more of a "PRACTICAL" approach. I think all the system and
more mainly the system that takes decisions that needs to be
"DRASTICALLY CHANGED". The selection process that we do to hire so
called bureaucrats should be changed "WE NEED MORE PRACTICAL
BUREAUCRATS". In short we need people who can think about themselves
but in a little less radius. The whole democracy philosophy in India
needs to be changes , changes in the law has to be done in a very big
way.
Before the tension escalates to new heights of full fledged war
between these two neighbours,both New Delhi and Islamabad should come
to the negotiation table and address each other's grievances with
utter seriousness.Both parties should ensure they behave with maturity
and act tough on whoever and whichever is involved in this heinous
crime.
Though taking any life is not allowed in any dictionary dealing with
humanity and when it comes to the life of any precious soldier,it
makes the situation much more grave.But this low in border trust
should not be an excuse to allow external powers to play their
cards.Both countries should stand up to the challenge and prove that
they are capable of handling these sort of situation on their
own.Peace process should go on like business as usual,which took
decades.Need of the hour is that,Indian government put their weight
behind these unsung heroes and bring the perpetrators to justice and
ensure that these sort of events are a minimal in future.
I wonder why the Indian Government is rejecting a UN probe into the
incident.
Not blaming the Indian or the Pakistanis, let the truth come out.
I dont trust either the Indian nor the Pakistani claims totally,
obviously all one gets to hear is what it TOLD by either of the militarys and REPORTED in the press
I smell a rat here. If the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) is present on both sides of the LoC, then what's the harm is allowing a probe? Is the Indian Army to blame? Are they misleading the country? If yes, they are playing a dangerous game and the government should Court-Martial the soldiers responsible for such reprehensible act rather than shielding them. The country deserves to know the truth!!! What an embarrassment !!!
Who will join Indian Army when Soldiers on boarder treated like this? Why do not we march upto Afghan boarder and what for our weak govt is waiting for ?
With All due respect to the author of this piece and this newspaper, I disagree that the peace process should continue. There is absolutely nothing that India will gain talking with a sick neighbor, both physically and mentally. India needs to stay assertive and if possible aggressive in dealing with Pakistan. We have certain bottom line conditions that must be met by Pakistan to ensure that they are sincere. We've been giving them a lot of concession due to their weak democratic setup ( right from Shimla Accord) , and they've continuously side-stepped us when the time to deliver has come. This peace accord makes more sense to Old people who've spend their lives in futility searching for Indo-Pak solution, for young India its a non-sense which needs to be stopped and we need to focus on getting real gains from Pakistan , irrespective of willingness of Pakistan.
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