Army readies tough reply to Pak butchery: Troops seethe as govt preaches restraint

India on Wednesday raised the pitch of its protest against the beheading of one of its jawans on the Line of Control (LOC) by accusing Pakistan of violating rules of engagements of civilized, professional armies as it mulled a systematic action plan in due course of time.

Top army sources told Mail Today there was anger in the army's rank and file which needed to be addressed. The immediate fallout of the gruesome incident was a strong political and diplomatic action, but a military response was also not ruled out. Though, officially, the mandate was to ease tension.

As the fragile Indo-Pak peace process hit the beheading roadblock, India took Pakistan to task with a stern message from foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai to Pakistan's high commissioner Salman Bashir. Bashir was summoned to South Block with a strong demarche telling him that the incident was unacceptable. Mathai told Bashir that the incident was against all international norms and Pakistan must investigate the matter seriously and share the details with India.

What followed was a veiled threat that such incidents should not recur or it will have an adverse impact on bilateral ties. External affairs minister Salman Khurshid said, "We have conveyed that this is unacceptable, our intent has been conveyed very clearly. We cannot allow for escalation of an unwholesome incident."

Tougher language

Highly placed sources told MAIL TODAY that some officials wanted a tougher language used in the note verbale against Pakistan but they were told to calm down at the behest of the PMO, which didn't want to escalate the matter. During his meeting with Bashir, Mathai jogged his memory and told him barely a fortnight ago experts of both countries had met in New Delhi on December 27, 2012 to discuss conventional CBMs, wherein maintaining the sanctity of the LOC, was one of the most important CBMs between the two countries.

Sources said that the defence minister and the national security adviser Shivshankar Menon briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the ceasefire violation and killing of two soldiers and a range of options were discussed. Contrary to public posturing, the Indian Army and its troops on the frontline are seething at the barbaric and uncalled for conduct of Pakistani soldiers. Army sources said this kind of behaviour in this day and age will not be tolerated. A section of the top army leadership wants a befitting response but given the fragile relationship where the neighbours have gone to war several times in the past, mature heads have asked for calm.

However, army top brass, aware of the overriding sentiment, is preparing for an action plan which is systematic and will be revealed in greater detail over time. Vigil along the LoC has been heightened as part of this strategic imperative which will result in no quarter being given if acts like these are repeated. Army may press special forces in key sectors where Pakistan regulars used cover of the fog to infiltrate and carry out this dastardly act.

The Indian Army suspects a larger play at work behind the brazen cross-border attack and the beheading of a soldier. Highly placed sources confirmed to Mail Today that the army chief has instructed one of his subordinates to prepare an assessment report on this incident.

The report will also include the issue of retirement of General Kayani this year who is already on an extension.

It is being felt that this attack was pre-planned and Pakistani Army is upping the ante because of General Kayani's reluctance to retire and its armed establishment coming under increased political scrutiny.

Objectionable

Sources said the Indian Army feel the attack wasn't perpetrated by Pakistani regulars but by the muchfeared Pakistani Special Service Group (SSG) which is India's counterpart of special forces. Defence minister A.K Antony, who was briefed about the incident by army chief Gen. Bikram Singh, termed the killings "highly objectionable".

Hotline between the directors general of military operations (DGMOs) of Indian and Pakistani armies was then activated. Indian DGMO Lt-Gen. Vinod Bhatia lodged protest with his counterpart Lt-Gen. Ishfaq Nadim Ahmed holding Pakistan army directly responsible for the aggression. The two officers spoke for over 12 minutes at 10 am during which LtGen.

Nadim Ahmed flatly denied the incident took place at all. "India lodged a strong protest giving details of the incident. We also conveyed to him that this action has been carried out by regular troops of the Pakistan Army," said an Indian Army spokesperson adding that "strong protest was also lodged against the mutilation of body (of one of the soldiers) which was a grave violation of the rules of engagement of any civilised, professional army".

The Pakistani DGMO neither asked for any proof nor proposed to investigate the issue as he refused to accept India's claim. The Indian side sought an investigation by Pakistan but received no response. The voices from Islamabad, however, said the incident should be probed by United Nations Military Observer Group based on either side of Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army rejected it outright.

Source: http://indiatoday.feedsportal.com/c/33614/f/589699/s/275dbbee/l/0Lindiatoday0Bintoday0Bin0Cstory0Cpakistan0Eceasefire0Eviolation0Eindia0Eprepares0Eto0Ereply0Eback0C10C2415170Bhtml/story01.htm

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