Five Indian soldiers killed by Pakistan

• Multiple incidents despite talks with Pakistan
• We must give appropriate response to Pak, suspend talks
• Attacks on the Line of Control can be prevented if government takes the right steps
• Pakistan has crossed all limits
• I would like to ask Congress-led UPA - till when will these talks with Pakistan continue?
• There have been so many incidents since Independence even after which talks with Pakistan continue
• PM should announce no talks with Pakistan
• The message has been conveyed to the government here
• Delhi ki sarkaar ko jaane se duniya ki koi takat nahi rokh sakti hain
• At UN meet, our PM should not engage any kind of talks with Pak PM. "Yeh elaan karna chahiye PM ko."

Subject:PRESS RELEASE-Statement of the Prime Minister of Pakistan

Office of the Spokesperson

High Commission for Pakistan

No. 28/2013-PR

PRESS RELEASE

Statement of the Prime Minister of Pakistan

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has expressed his sadness over the recent incidents on the Line of Control (LoC) which has resulted into flaring up of tensions between India and Pakistan and loss of precious human lives.

The Prime Minister expressed these views during a briefing by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials at the Foreign Office today.

The Prime Minister said that it was imperative for both India and Pakistan to take effective steps to ensure and restore ceasefire on the Line of Control.

The Prime Minister, during the briefing, also emphasized that while existing military to military channels could be more optimally utilized to prevent misunderstanding and not allowing situation to escalate. Pakistan, he said, is prepared to discuss steps with India for further strengthening of existing mechanisms both at the political and military levels.

The Prime Minister further said that it is incumbent upon the leadership of both sides not to allow the situation to drift and to take steps to improve the atmosphere by engaging constructively with a view to building trust and confidence.

The Prime Minister said that he was looking forward to his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. During the meeting, we will discuss steps to further build trust and consolidate this relationship, the Prime Minister added.

 The Prime Minister reiterated the resolve that Pakistan will persist in its efforts to improve relations with India through a constructive dialogue on all issues.

Mr. Pervez Rashid Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage,        Mr. Sartaj Aziz, Advisor to Prime Minister on National Security, Mr. Tariq Fatimi Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and senior officials of the Foreign Office and Prime Minister's Office attended the briefing.

New Delhi

August 8, 2013.

******

Defence Minister AK Antony today indicted Pakistan's army for the deadly amubsh in which five Indian soldiers were killed in Kashmir earlier this week.

The minister said that "specialist troops" of the Pakistani Army crossed the Line of Control into Indian territory and killed the five Indians.. "We all know nothing happens from Pakistan side of the Line of Control without support, assistance, facilitation and often, direct involvement of the Pakistan Army," Mr Antony said.

He also warned, "Our restraint should not be taken for granted; nor should the capacity of our Armed Forces..." (Read full text of AK Antony's statement in Lok Sabha)

His strongly-worded statement comes after the opposition accused him  of deliberately choosing not to blame the Pakistani army for the attack, amid attempts to revive peace talks with Pakistan.  The government has not yet officially commented on whether the assault will change plans for the Prime Minister to  meet his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, when both leaders attend the UN General Assembly in New York next month.

But sources say that the government is clear that "business as usual" will not continue, and that Pakistan will have to effectively demonstrate its commitment to curbing attacks in India.

The Pakistani Prime Minister responded this evening, "It is imperative for India and  Pakistan to take effective steps torestore  the ceasefire on Line of Control."

In Parliament, the new statement of the Defence Minister was welcomed by Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj who had accused him of "giving a clean chit to Pakistan" on Tuesday, when he stopped short of  blaming the Pakistani army and attributed the assault to "men in Pakistani army uniforms." (Read: Defence Minister's statement on Tuesday)

He was contradicted by his own ministry, which issued a statement directly accusing Pakistani soldiers of participating in the ambush. (Read Defence Ministry statement)

But the ministry later retracted its statement and said Mr Antony's account represented the official record of what had happened on the border. (Read: Defence Ministry retracts statement)

Mr Antony said his new assessment is based on inputs from Army Chief General Bikram Singh who visited Kashmir yesterday.

• It is the opposition's duty to bring the government back on track when it has derailed and that is we got the statement rectified.
• Bihar Minister Bhim Singh insulted the martyrs. Apology is not enough.
• Nitish Kumar has been an ethical man. He suspended a minister earlier when accused of wrongdoing.
• BJP expects he will suspend Bhim Singh for insulting martyrs.

• Sources: Government won't commit to meeting with Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif. PM Manmohan Singh is scheduled to meet Mr Sharif on the sideline of an UN meet in New York in September.
• Sources: Can't be business as usual with Pakistan
• Sources: Pakistan needs to get its act together first

• Nothing happened at LoC without the support, assistance of the Pakistan Army
• The incident happened with the support of specialist Pakistan troops
  
• They should not go unpunished
• Pakistan should show determined action
  
• This will affect our relationship with Pakistan, in policies and at the Line of Control

Cong spokesperson says 'lashon pe rajneeti ho rahi hai'. Kshama karein, ye lashein nahin - shaheed hain.

- Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwarajbjp) August 7, 2013

Aur shaheedon ke baare poochhna rajneeti nahin, deshbhakti hai.

- Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwarajbjp) August 7, 2013

• These major changes in statement don't happen on their own. They are made.
• All the changes give a convenient route of escape to Pakistan. Pakistan is a state in denial.
• Effect of it was to give a defence to Pak.
• As a result people from Pakistan said that it could Kashmiri militants. Attack could have been from inside.
• On BJP-PM meet: I would not go into specifics of the meet. Each of the concerns be it Bangladesh or yesterday's event, we have conveyed it to the PM
• On Indo-Pak talks:
• There has to be an environment for dialogue.
• Head of our soldier is chopped. Our mission in Jalalabad is attacked. Soldiers are killed.
• I think it would be inappropriate right now for PM to think of talks.
• No talks is an option, talks at lower level is an option but heads of state talking is a last resort.
• If army and Defence Minister speak in two voices then you, me and entire country is left guessing
• AK Antony must come out with the facts. There should be no ambiguity.

• In meeting with PM, BJP lodges protest on government response to jawans' killings, says sources
• BJP asks govt to rectify the mistake in its stand, say sources
• BJP conveys anguish to PM over Defence Minister AK Antony's 'blunder', say sources

• Pakistan is exploiting the divide inside our Parliament.
• AK Antony's statement is final; it was a carefully considered statement based on facts given by Army.
• No question of the Defence Minister apologising.
• Defence Minister's statement was carefully calibrated, Army press release was inaccurate.
  
• There are no contradictions but sadly the questions raised give people from the other side an opportunity to use it.
• Whether Pakistan Army or terrorists in uniform, the responsibility for the attack is Pakistan's
• This is not a subjective judgement on how Pak becomes responsible; whatever comes from across the border in any form or any uniform, Pakistan is responsible
• Too early to say whether PM-Sharif meeting will happen A week is a long time in politics especially international politics
• I shouldn't really second guess. As we move ahead informed decisions will be taken keeping national interests in mind.
  

Two Pakistani soldiers were injured in an exchange of fire with Indian troops in Kashmir today, news agency Reuters has reported.

• Extremely anguished, on a day when the nation is still mourning the death of its five soldiers,  partisan politics being played.
• How is the policy of the UPA on Pakistan different from the NDA's?
• Defence Minister brought all the facts available with him to the notice of the house.

Pandemonium in both Houses of Parliament over Antony's statement on killing of Indian soldiers

Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha adjourned till 12 over Antony statement

• We will all believe the Indian Army because they are on the ground.
• The Defence Minister's statement lacked clarity and understanding.

New Delhi: 15 Shravana, 1935

                                                                                                Tuesday, 06 August, 2013

A patrol of Indian Army comprising of one Non Commissioned Officer and five Other Ranks was ambushed on our side of Line of Control in Punch Sector of J&K early morning on August 6, 2013. In the ensuing firefight, five Indian soldiers were martyred and one soldier was injured. The ambush was carried out by approximately 20 heavily armed terrorists along with persons dressed in Pakistan Army uniforms.

The numbers of infiltration attempts have doubled this year in comparison to the corresponding period(1 Jan- 5 Aug) of 2012. There has also been 57 Cease Fire Violations this year which is 80% more than the violations last year during the same corresponding period. The Indian Army successfully eliminated 19 hardcore terrorists in the recent months of July and August along the Line of Control and in the hinterland in J&K. The effective counter infiltration grid on the Line of Control has ensured that 17 infiltration bids were foiled this year.

We strongly condemn this unprovoked incident. Government of India has lodged strong protest with Government of Pakistan through diplomatic channels. I assure the House that our Army is fully ready to take all necessary steps to uphold the sanctity of LoC. Government of India conveys its condolences to the families of the martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.

DM/VP

( S N Acharya )

Offg PRO (Defence) Jammu 

0191 - 2578963 

PRO/Jammu/426/Aug /2013 

• The government at the Centre has become impotent.
• Instead of asking for martyr Hemraj's head, India treated leaders from Pakistan to biryani.
• What is our foreign policy? Did we speak to China when it entered our territory repeatedly?
• I expected the Defence Minister to make a strong statement after today's incident. Defence Minister did not speak on what our next step will be.

• This whole statement is full of  apologies. Why doesn't Defence Minister say Pakistani soldiers?
• Why the ambiguity? What does he mean by "persons dress in Pakistani uniform"?
• Each time Pakistan tells us forget the previous incident... look at the statement Sartaj Aziz made on 26/11
  

SUO MOTO STATEMENT IN THE LOK SABHA & RAJYA SABHA BY DEFENCE MINISTER ON AMBUSH INCIDENT ON LOC ON AUGUST 06, 2013

New Delhi: 15 Shravana, 1935

                                                                                                Tuesday, 06 August

A patrol of Indian Army comprising of one Non Commissioned Officer and five Other Ranks was ambushed on our side of Line of Control in Punch Sector of J&K early morning on August 6, 2013. In the ensuing firefight, five Indian soldiers were martyred and one soldier was injured. The ambush was carried out by approximately 20 heavily armed terrorists along with persons dressed in Pakistan Army uniforms.

The numbers of infiltration attempts have doubled this year in comparison to the corresponding period(1 Jan- 5 Aug) of 2012. There has also been 57 Cease Fire Violations this year which is 80% more than the violations last year during the same corresponding period. The Indian Army successfully eliminated 19 hardcore terrorists in the recent months of July and August along the Line of Control and in the hinterland in J&K. The effective counter infiltration grid on the Line of Control has ensured that 17 infiltration bids were foiled this year.

We strongly condemn this unprovoked incident. Government of India has lodged strong protest with Government of Pakistan through diplomatic channels. I assure the House that our Army is fully ready to take all necessary steps to uphold the sanctity of LoC. Government of India conveys its condolences to the families of the martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.

DM/VP

1. Naik Prem Nath Singh. (21 Bihar)

2. Lance Naik Samhu Sharan Ray. (21 Bihar)

3. Naik Mane Kundlik Kerba (14 Maratha Light Infantry)

4. Sepoy Raghunandan Prasad (21 Bihar)

5 .Sepoy Vijay Kumar Ray (21 Bihar)

Yashwant Sinha: We are always confused between talks, peace and war. Between no talks and war, there is huge space.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Government Pakistan

Office of the Spokesman

Press Release

Pakistan rejects Indian allegations of killing of its soldiers

Pakistan rejects the allegations carried by some sections of the Indian media of an attack across the LoC in the Poonch sector in which five Indian soldiers were claimed to have been killed. These are baseless and unfounded allegations.  Our military authorities have confirmed that there had been no exchange of fire that could have resulted in such an incident.

Pakistan remains committed to the ceasefire agreement of 2003 which is an important Confidence Building Measure and should be respected in letter and spirit. Pakistan also urges the need for abiding by and strengthening existing military mechanisms to ensure that such ill-founded reports that have the potential of vitiating the atmosphere, are avoided.

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. It is important that both sides make serious efforts in maintaining the positive atmosphere and avoid negative propaganda.

Islamabad

6 August 2013