FILE photo: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj
New Delhi:
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today wrote to Pakistan's Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz, dismissing the contentions made by him in his letter that was addressed to her.
In his letter, dated January 2 2015, Mr Aziz had alleged that India killed two Pakistani Rangers in cold blood after calling them for a meeting on the International Border on December 31.
Official sources have told NDTV that Ms Swaraj, in her response, stated that "the incidents on 31st December in the Jammu sector began when a routine BSF patrol flying an identifying flag came under sniper fire from a Pakistan Border Post, which resulted in the death of one Indian security personnel and serious injuries to another."
Sources say, she also said that Pakistani commanders responded to Indian defensive fire by escalating matters by using higher calibre weapons, expanding the zone of conflict to other sub-sectors and targeting civilian habitations.
The Foreign Minister also categorically said that at no stage did the Indian side seek any platoon-level contact under a white flag as was suggested in the communication sent to her.
Pakistan alleges that on December 31, troops of the Border Security Force "invited the personnel of the Punjab Rangers for a flag meeting, but greeted the unsuspecting soldiers with a volley of unprovoked fire, causing severe injuries to two soldiers. The unabated Indian firing denied timely medical attention to the wounded soldiers, who succumbed to their injuries".
In his letter, dated January 2 2015, Mr Aziz had alleged that India killed two Pakistani Rangers in cold blood after calling them for a meeting on the International Border on December 31.
Official sources have told NDTV that Ms Swaraj, in her response, stated that "the incidents on 31st December in the Jammu sector began when a routine BSF patrol flying an identifying flag came under sniper fire from a Pakistan Border Post, which resulted in the death of one Indian security personnel and serious injuries to another."
Sources say, she also said that Pakistani commanders responded to Indian defensive fire by escalating matters by using higher calibre weapons, expanding the zone of conflict to other sub-sectors and targeting civilian habitations.
The Foreign Minister also categorically said that at no stage did the Indian side seek any platoon-level contact under a white flag as was suggested in the communication sent to her.
Pakistan alleges that on December 31, troops of the Border Security Force "invited the personnel of the Punjab Rangers for a flag meeting, but greeted the unsuspecting soldiers with a volley of unprovoked fire, causing severe injuries to two soldiers. The unabated Indian firing denied timely medical attention to the wounded soldiers, who succumbed to their injuries".
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