The killing of five Indian soldiers in the Poonch sector in Jammu and Kashmir rocked Parliament as leaders in both houses questioned why the government was feeling helpless in the face of aggression
Five soldiers were killed in an ambush along the border with Pakistan in Kashmir on Tuesday, a clash that threatens to derail renewed efforts to resume peace talks between the country and its armed rivals Pakistan.
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Army sources said the attack took place in the early hours of Tuesday about 450 metres inside Indian territory, where six soldiers were on patrol.
One soldier survived. The raid took place near an outpost of 21 Bihar Regiment in the Poonch sector in the south of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
A senior police officer said that Pakistan troops crossed the line of control (LoC) in Chakan da bagh sector of Poonch district. “They attacked our post in Karmad village on the LoC killing five of our soldiers.
Later, the intruding soldiers withdrew back into the Pakistan side of the LOC,” the official said. The slain soldiers were later identified as as Naik Prem Nath Singh, Lance Naik Shambu Suran Rai, Sepoy Ravinand Prasad, Sepoy Vijay Kumar Rai and Kuleen Mannae. The attack also caused Lok Sabha to be adjourned till tomorrow.
The attack, one of the worst since the two countries signed a ceasefire in 2003, put the government under pressure to respond aggressively causing a powwow in parliament between the ruling party and the opposition.
Did you know?
Pakistan Army and its affiliates have violated ceasefire 57 times in 2013, which is almost 50% more thanu00a0the violations that took place inu00a0the previous year
The ruling side V/S The opposition
India won’t be cowed down by such blatant acts of deceit. The entire Congress as indeed the country stands by them.u00a0
– Sonia Gandhi, Congress president
The ambush was carried out by approx 20 armed terrorists, along with persons dressed in Pakistan Army uniforms. I assure that our Army is ready to take steps to uphold the sanctity of LoC.
– AK Antony, defence minister
If Pakistan wants better relations with India, this (killings) is not the way.
– RPN Singh, MoS for Home
These incidents don’t help efforts to normalise or even improve relations with Pak & call in to question the Pak Govt’s recent overtures.
– Omar Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister
I do not believeu00a0
in breaking dialogue... The important thing about dialogue is that there is no restriction on whatever you want to say directly to the person concerned. I think the formu00a0of diplomacy which saysu00a0we will not talk to themu00a0so as to make a unilateral statement, is wrong.
– Mani Shankar Aiyar, Cong leader
The time has come to give a befitting reply. The minister said people dressed as Pakistani soldiers army killed soldiers. I hope this is not some kind of typographical error. When you say this, you are giving Pakistan a chance to say they were non-state actors.
– Arun Jaitley, leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha
From China’s intrusions to Pakistan’s ambushes, UPA government has been absolutely lax in securing Indian borders. When will Centre wake up?
– Narendra Modi, Gujarat CM
The govt should clarify -- is the Congress with Pakistan or India? We should respond in the same way.
– Yashwant Sinha, BJP leader
The government has been very soft on Pakistan. They are being violent and our government is silent. It is a state policy of Pakistan... to cripple India. India should stop all talks with Pakistan.
– Venkaiah Naidu, BJP leader
Talks with Pak should not be held if even one bullet is fired. You can’t have our soldiers being killed and hold talks.
– Shahnawaz Hussain, BJP leader
Pakistan speaks
In Islamabad, the military denied killing the Indian soldiers. “No such incident has taken place on the LoC,” an official with the army’s Inter-Services Public Relations said.u00a0Later, the foreign office came out with a strong denial of Pakistani official’s complicity in the ambush. “Pakistan rejects allegations ... of an attack across the LoC in Poonch sector in which five Indian soldiers were claimed to have been killed,” it said. “These are baseless and unfounded allegations. Our military authorities have confirmed there had been no exchange of fire that could have resulted in such an incident,” it said. “Pakistan is committed to a constructive, sustained and result-oriented process of engagement with India, and looks forward to an early resumption of the dialogue process.”
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