Beheading warrants unequivocal response, India tells Pakistan

New Delhi, May 2
Army Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen AK Bhatt on Tuesday told his Pakistan counterpart Maj Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza that mutilation of bodies of Indians warranted unequivocal response.
Using the word ‘unequivocal’, which means unambiguous, was like a warning to Pakistan that India would respond.
On Monday, two Indian soldiers, one from the Army and one from the BSF, had died and their bodies mutilated in a military action by Pakistan in the Krishna Ghati sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.

Lt Gen Bhat termed the mutilation (beheading) as a dastardly and inhuman act. “It is beyond the norms of civility and merits unequivocal condemnation and response.”
Lt Gen Bhat told the Pakistan DGMO that “full fire” support was provided by Pakistan Army located in the vicinity.
He rejected claims made by Pakistan Army on Monday which had said that its troops were not involved in mutilation of Indian soldiers.
“Pakistan troops targeted Indian Army patrol on the Indian side of the LC (military usage for LoC) and mutilated bodies of the Indian soldiers,” Lt Gen Bhat told his counterpart in Pakistan. The Indian Army tweeted the full text of the statement.
He also spoke about presence of border action team training in the vicinity of the LoC.
On Monday night, local commanders’ level hotline contact was established at Rawalkot-Poonch sector on the LoC.
Pak rejects India’s claim on beheading, says will respond to any misadventure

Meanwhile Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued a statement from Rawalpindi saying, “The DGMO, Pakistan Army, Maj Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza rejected baseless and unfounded Indian allegations of mutilation of Indian Army soldiers’ bodies by Pakistan Army.”
The DGMO asked for actionable evidence and cautioned his Indian counterpart saying any misadventure from India would be appropriately responded at a place and time of its own choosing.
The issue was discussed during a hotline contact between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of Pakistan and India this morning to defuse the tension.
Pakistan DGMO Maj Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza told his Indian counterpart Lt Gen A K Bhatt that neither ceasefire violations occurred in the Sector (pointed out by India in the mutilation allegation), nor crossing of the LoC by Pakistanis troops have taken place.
The Pakistani statement said the DGMO, Pakistan Army, highlighted that Pakistan Army is a professional military outfit and upholds the highest standards of conduct.
“Allegations of mutilation are India’s attempt to divert the attention of world from situation in the Valley,” it said.