The Indian Army on Tuesday registered its strong protest over the brutal killing of its three soldiers by the Border Action Team (BAT) of Pakistan army during the Director General Military Operation (DGMO)-level functional talks. The 10-minutes long conversation on the hotline happened between the Brigadier ranked officers from both sides, in which Indian Army also warned Pakistan against indulging in or abetting such activities in future.
“At around 10:30 am during the DGMO-level functional talks, the Indian Army expressed concern over the killing of its soldiers in Sunderbani sector in the LoC (Line of Control) and constant ceasefire violation by Pakistan army to support infiltration. Moreover, the continued presence of terrorists in launchpads across the LoC was also raised by the Indian side," said a source based in the Army headquarters.
Related stories
On Sunday afternoon, five to six Pakistani intruders crossed the LoC and fired at an Indian Army patrol in the Sunderbani sector. In the ensuing gunfight, two heavily-armed Pakistani intruders and three Indian soldiers from 8 JAKLI unit were killed.
Besides military level, New Delhi has also raised the issue at diplomatic level with Pakistan. On Tuesday morning, the Pakistan High Commissioner based in New Delhi was summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs.
The MEA in a statement said that the Pakistan High Commission official was summoned to the MEA and a demarche was made, lodging strong protest over the loss of lives of Indian soldiers during the cross-border infiltration bid by Pakistani terrorists.
"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. However, the Army sources said that Pakistan is yet to respond to India's demand.
Official sources claimed that the two bodies are suspected to be of Pakistani soldiers and that the Indian Army will dispose off the bodies if nobody comes to receive them.
Indian Army has claimed that it has been exercising "utmost restraint" to uphold the ceasefire pact along the LoC after the last talks between the DGMOs of the two countries on May 29. The Pakistan army, however, has been regularly carrying out provocative actions from across the border.