Gvn.....Jammu : Four Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliation on Wednesday after an Indian jawan on patrol duty was shot dead in a ceasefire violation along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmirs Samba district. This was the second ceasefire violation in 24 hours by the Pakistani Rangers who guard the border in Pak-occupied Kashmir. Incidentally, on Tuesday night, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had told reporters that the Indian army would retaliate with double the force if Pakistan opens fire across the border. His comments came as tension between the two countries escalated. Parrikars statement of intent, followed by the Indian retaliation, seems to have had the desired effect: After Indian backlash, the Pakistani Rangers raised a white flag, which is a request for time-out to remove the bodies of those killed. Honouring their request, we stopped the firing and allowed them to lift the bodies, said a BSF official. Retaliation comes on heels of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikars warning that army would hit back with double the force if Pak opens fire. The incident ricocheted in Islamabad where the Foreign Office summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner and lodged a protest over the ceasefire violations allegedly by India in which Pakistan Rangers were killed. Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh was called to the Foreign Office and given a protest note. Only the other day the ministry of External Affairs in Delhi had summoned the Pakistan High Commissioner there after 26/11 accused Zaikur Reh-man Lakhvi was ordered to be released by a Rawalpindi court. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, too, has asked the BSF to give a fitting reply to the Rangers. An official statement released in Delhi said, The Home Minister asked the DG, BSF, to provide a suitable and appropriate reply to any such unprovoked firing. Cross-border violence in Jammu and Kashmir has, in recent months, been the worst in over a decade. In October, at least 20 civilians were killed on both sides. jnskashmir
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 04:53:59 +0000
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