More articles by

Rekha Dixit
Rekha Dixit

BORDER TENSION

Mutilation of soldiers: Can India produce concrete evidence of Pak Army's role?

India Pakistan Kashmir External Affairs spokesman Gopal Baglay speaks during a press briefing on the killing and mutilation of two soldiers along the Line of Control | AP

The beheading of  two Indian soldiers along the Line of Control on May 1 has shocked the country, but what proof does India have that it is the handiwork of the Pakistan Army? 

On Wednesday, Indian foreign secretary S. Jaishankar summoned Pakistan high commissioner to India Abdul Basit to express India' s outrage at the killing and mutilation. Jaishankar told Basit that the action on May 1 by Pakistani Army was a “strong act of provocation in contravention to all norms of civilised conduct''. He demanded strong action against the Pakistani soldiers and the commanders who were responsible for the barbaric act of mutilation. 

Basit, however, stuck by the Pakistan's line, claiming that their army was not involved in this act, and that he would communicate India's reaction to his country. India has said that “it was significant that the attack was preceded by covering fire from Pakistani posts in Battal sector. Blood samples of the Indian soldiers that have been collected and the trail of blood on Roza Nala clearly show that the killers returned across the Line of Control.'' 

However, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Gopal Baglay was not able to explain clearly what this trail of blood up to the the Roza Nala was. Was it of the Indian soldiers, whose multilated remains were taken as prize across the LoC, or was it the trail of injured Pakistani soldiers? And, how did that trail prove that this was the handiwork of uniformed Pakistani personnel and not a non-state actor?

These are questions that Pakistan and the international community will be asking. India's proof needs to be robust and unquestionable.  

If fact, when the two director generals of military operations (DGMOs) had their weekly hotline talk on May 2, the Pakistani DGMO had asked India to furnish “actionable evidence''.  

The Indian Army, which is seething under yet another humiliating and demoralising attack from Pakistan, has said that it will seek retribution at a time and place of its choosing. 

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Topics : #border | #ceasefire

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