New Delhi: India summoned the Pakistani High Commissioner in Delhi this morning
over yesterday's attack in Kashmir, in which Pakistani troops crossed
the Line of Control and killed two soldiers; one was beheaded.
Both sides exchanged strong words today but warned against the escalation of the crisis.
Foreign
Minister Salman Khurshid said that at today's meeting, Pakistani envoy
Salman Bashir, was told that the attack is "unacceptable." India has
asked Pakistan to investigate the "barbaric and inhuman mutilation" of
the dead jawans, Lance Naiks Hemraj Singh and Sudhakar Singh.
Pakistan
has denied India's allegations and offered a United Nations inquiry,
which is unlikely to be accepted by India. Mr Bashir told NDTV this
evening that preliminary investigations show that Pakistani troops did
not enter Indian territory or kill Indian soldiers. He said it's
imperative for both sides to "de-escalate the tension."
Sources
in the Indian government say that if Pakistan does not agree to an
enquiry, New Delhi will consider the suspension or cancellation of a new
and more liberal visa process introduced recently by both countries to
exhibit improving relations.
While a statement by the Pakistani
government has warned against "negative propaganda", the Pakistani army
has also denied that its troops were responsible for yesterday's attack.
"Indian authorities were informed that Pakistan has carried out ground
verification and checked and found nothing of this sort happened as
being alleged by India," a Pakistani military official told reporters.
Pakistan's
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, appearing on a local television
channel, described India's allegations as "absolutely unacceptable" and
reiterated the offer of an investigation by UN observers.
Pakistan
blames India for violating the Line of Control and ceasefire on Sunday
by raiding a Pakistani army post. Islamabad says a soldier died in that
attack. India has refuted the accusation.
(
With inputs from agencies)
