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IAF chief talks tough, government stresses
diplomacy
Government not
"going to be pressurised by wild calls for revenge and reaction,
says Khursheed
Saturday January 12, 2013 09:29:13 PM,
IANS
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New Delhi: In a veiled
warning, the IAF chief said Saturday India may have to "look at
some other options" if Pakistan continues to violate the ceasefire
on the LoC with impunity even as the government said it will not
buckle to "wild calls for revenge and reaction" over the killing
and beheading of two Indian soldiers by Pakistani troops.
Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne termed violations of the Line of
Control (LoC) and the 2003 ceasefire agreement by Pakistan as
"totally unacceptable".
"We are watching the situation carefully, if the violations
continue, perhaps we may have to think of some other options for
compliance," he said, but declined to elaborate on the options.
"Options are options...If violations continue we might have to
look at the whole issue again."
The Indian Air Force (IAF) chief's strong words came a day after
Pakistan summoned the Indian envoy in Islamabad to lodge its
protest over the killing of a Pakistani soldier in alleged firing
by Indian troops Thursday.
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, in an interview to NDTV
news channel, however said the government was not "going to be
pressurised by wild calls for revenge and reaction.
"We will do what is in the best interest of the country and peace,
keeping in mind that there is a lot at stake."
Heightened border tensions "demands very responsible and sensible
and moderate behaviour", he said.
Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Manish
Tewari said the Jan 8 killing and mutilation of two Indian
soldiers was in violation of "rules of engagement".
"Government is doing everything at the strategic level to express
its anger. We have said clearly that the incident is inhuman. The
incident is in complete violation of the Geneva convention and
rules of engagement," he said at a press conference.
Pakistan has not responded so far to India's request for a
brigadier-level flag meeting.
"We are still waiting (for a response)," the Indian Army
spokesperson told IANS.
There was no firing Saturday on the Line of Control that divides
Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan, he informed. The
army also clarified that of the two killed Indian soldiers, one
was "mutilated and beheaded" while the other was "mutilated".
Border tensions between India and Pakistan have risen sharply
since the Jan 6 death of a Pakistani soldier in alleged firing by
Indian forces along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
Two days later, Pakistani soldiers killed and beheaded two Indian
soldiers in the Mendhar sector in Poonch district.
India had summoned the Pakistani High Commissioner Salman Bashir
to lodge its protest over the killing. Political parties have
called for tough action against Pakistan.
Former BJP president Rajnath Singh said India should recall its
high commissioner to Pakistan and scale down the level of
diplomatic ties. He said that recent incident on the LoC in Poonch
district of Jammu and Kashmir indicates that Pakistan was not keen
to improve relations.
Congress leader Ambika Soni said the brutal killing of two Indian
soldiers was a hindrance to the confidence building measures
between India and Pakistan.
In Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, the civil society
appealed to the governments of India and Pakistan to restore peace
and respect the 2003 ceasefire agreement.
In a written appeal, prominent citizens of the town said: "For the
people of Poonch region as others living close to the LoC, the
ceasefire (agreement of November 2003) brought peace, security and
created atmosphere for development in the border areas."
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