This Article is From Aug 08, 2013

Defence Minister AK Antony blames Pakistan Army for attack, issues strong warning

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Danapur: Villagers pay their last respects over the casket bearing the remains of soldier Vijay Kumar Rai.

New Delhi:
Defence Minister AK Antony today indicted Pakistan's army for the deadly ambush 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 to restore  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.

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