Pakistan on Thursday morning rubbished India’s claim of surgical strikes, and maintained that it was a “falsified claim” designed to “make a fool of its own people (Indians)” and “the international co
Pakistan on Thursday morning rubbished India’s claim of surgical strikes, and maintained that it was a “falsified claim” designed to “make a fool of its own people (Indians)” and “the international community”. But by evening, Pakistan had summoned Indian high commissioner Gautam Bambawale over “unprovoked firing” by India in which two Pakistani soldiers had been killed. Foreign secretary Aizaz Chaudhry “condemned the unprovoked firing by” Indian forces on the Line of Control (LoC) in which two Pakistani soldiers were killed, Pakistan foreign office said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, while admitting that two Pakistani soldiers had been killed, Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif said, “The Indian Army opened up small-arms fire last night on five sectors across the LoC,” and that if India tries this again, “Pakistan would respond forcefully”, adding that “India is doing this only to please their media and public”.
But by evening, Pakistani newspaper Dawn and news channel Geo News were carrying reports quoting security sources that 14 soldiers from the Indian Army had been killed in firing across the LoC in two sectors, and that an Indian soldier, by the name Chandu Babulal Chohan, had been taken into custody by Pakistani forces.
Responding to the report, sources in New Delhi said that one soldier from 37 RR with weapons has inadvertently crossed over to the other side of LoC. Pakistan has been informed by the DGMO on the hotline. Such inadvertent crossing by Army and civilians are not unusual on either side. They are returned through existing mechanisms. As regard reports about the killing of eight Indian Army personnel in sections of Pakistan media, sources called them “completely false and baseless”.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, while condemning the “unprovoked and naked aggression of Indian forces” along the Line of Control (LoC), said the Pakistani armed forces were ready to defend the country as he summoned a meeting of the federal Cabinet on Friday. Mr Sharif and Pakistan Army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif had a telephonic conversation during which they discussed the situation at the LoC, a Pakistani newspaper reported, adding in another report that the Pakistan Army had identified targets to retaliate in case of an attack by India.
In a formal statement issued on Thursday evening, Islamabad said, “Pakistan strongly condemns unprovoked ceasefire violations at the LoC by Indian forces which is a continuation of a pattern of ceasefire violations committed by the Indian forces. The valiant armed forces of Pakistan have given and will continue to give a befitting response to any aggression. Pakistan also rejects the baseless Indian claim that it has ‘carried out surgical strikes into Pakistan’. The Indian side has chosen to share this falsified claim with the Indian media. Such falsified concocted and irresponsible statements can only escalate the already-fragile security situation in the region... India has deliberately escalated tension at the LoC in order to divert attention from the continued deteriorating situation in... J&K. It is trying to make a fool of its own people and the international community. We can assure India that any such aggression will not go unanswered or unpunished. Pakistan is ready to defend its people and territory from any Indian aggression... on Pakistani soil.”
Earlier on Thursday, the Pakistani Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army and ISI, had said in a statement, “There has been no surgical strike by India. Instead, there had been cross-border fire initiated and conducted by India which is an existential phenomenon. As per rules of engagement, the same was strongly and befittingly responded to by Pakistani troops. The notion of surgical strike linked to alleged terrorist bases is an illusion being deliberately generated by India to create false effects. This quest by the Indian establishment to create media hype by re-branding cross-border fire as surgical strike is a fabrication of the truth. Pakistan has made it clear that if there is a surgical strike on Pakistani soil, the same will be strongly responded to.” Pakistan Army chief Raheel Sharif said that Pakistan’s Army was the most battle-hardened unit in the world and fully ready to meet any challenge.
