India summons Pakistani envoy over killing of soldiers

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI, India (AA) - India on Wednesday summoned Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit over the recent killing of two Indian soldiers along the Line of Control (LoC) in northern Jammu and Kashmir.

Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar conveyed to Basit India’s “outrage at the killing and the barbaric act of mutilation of the bodies of two India soldiers on May 1 by Pakistani army personnel,” according to a statement from the External Affairs Ministry.

India said it had proof Pakistani army personnel crossed the LoC, a de facto border region that divides the disputed Himalayan Kashmir valley between the two archrivals, on Monday and killed two Indian soldiers after attacking an Indian army patrol team in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district.

The killing and alleged mutilation of Indian soldiers had sparked strong reaction in India, with people demanding stern action against Pakistan.

Minister of External Affairs spokesman Gopal Baglay said: “Blood samples of Indian soldiers involved have been collected and we also have trail of blood leading up to the LoC.

“This shows people who came from across the border later returned to Pakistan-occupied [Azad] Kashmir. We have told the Pakistani high commissioner that we have enough evidence."

He also said Indian government demands from Pakistan immediate action against the soldiers and commanders responsible for the killings.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani high commissioner rejected the Indian allegations.

Pakistani broadcaster ARY News quoted Basit as telling Jaishankar that no such incident took place along the Line of Control.

Pakistan army is a professional army and it cannot disrespect the bodies of a rival army, he reportedly said.

He hoped India would not deteriorate the situation further on the basis of the latest allegation, ARY News added.

*Anadolu Agency’s Aamir Latif contributed to this report from Karachi, Pakistan.