Pakistan-bashing has become fashionable in
India: Envoy
Friday January 18, 2013 09:31:14 PM,
IANS
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New Delhi: Pakistan
has denied its forces crossed the Line of Control Jan 8, the day
two Indian soldiers were brutally killed on the border, and said
the killings should be probed by the respective armies.
In an interview to NDTV news channel, Pakistan High Commissioner Salman Bashir also said that Pakistan-bashing had "become
fashionable" in India.
The envoy condemned the Jan 8 killing and mutilation of two Indian
soldiers, including the beheading of one, in Mendhar sector of
Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
"Such heinous acts of course are condemnable, irrespective of
where they happen and when... But to say that they were done by
Pakistan or the Pakistan army was responsible is something that we
cannot agree to," he said.
"When India raised the issue with us, we had said that we had made
some preliminary checks... that we were prepared to do more and
both the militaries needed to get to the bottom of it... That is
the way we think this matter should have been handled instead of
playing or stirring raw emotions and upping the rhetoric. This is
detrimental to normal business," Bashir said.
He added: "Unfortunately, I must say that it has almost become
fashionable, that Pakistan-bashing has become fashionable whenever
there is an issue."
"The incident needs to be looked at by the Indian military command
and to the extent (possible) shared with us... we have said we are
prepared to look at it."
Bashir emphasized: "We are absolutely clear, that at no point in
time did Pakistani forces cross the LoC."
The Indian Army says that Pakistani troops crossed 600 metres into
the Indian side of the LoC Jan 8 and brutally killed and beheaded
Lance Naik Hemraj Singh, whose head is still missing, and killed
and mutilated Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh.
The killings led to loud protests in India and calls for snapping
ties with Pakistan.
Bashir also said: "One wrong, or two wrongs, do not really square
up... The important thing is to get up to deal with the issues to
the best of our ability within the mechanisms that exist."
The Pakistani envoy also welcomed the DGMOs (Director General of
Military Operations) of the two countries speaking on the hotline
Wednesday, and agreeing to maintain the 2003 ceasefire, a crucial
part of their confidence building measures.
"Hope at the military-to-military level it will help in bringing
back peace and tranquility on the LoC," he said.
Following the Jan 8 killing, India took a tough stand saying it
could not be "business as usual" with Pakistan unless the
perpetrators of the killing are brought to book.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar has offered talks at
the foreign ministers level to resolve issues between the two
countries.
Border tensions have flared since Jan 6, when Pakistan accused
Indian troops of killing one of of its soldiers. Two days later,
the two Indian soldiers were killed.
Pakistan alleges that two more of its soldiers have been killed in
firing by India.
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