Indo-Pak flag meet: India lodges strong protest over beheading of soldier

India on Monday strongly protested with Pakistan over the spurt in incidents of ceasefire violations especially the killing of its two soldiers in Mendhar by the latter Tuesday last.

The protest came at a Brigadier level flag meeting held between the two sides at Chakkan Da Bagh this afternoon. The meeting began at 1 pm and last for nearly half an hour.

Though there had been no official briefing from Army about the meeting, sources said that from the Indian side, it was attended by Brigade Commander of Krishna Ghati Brigade, Brigadier TPS Sandhu.

At the very outset, sources said that Indian side strongly protested unprovoked firing by Pakistani troops on its positions, especially its Tuesday last raid in Mendhar killing two soldiers and later mutilating their bodies. It was gruesome and totally unacceptable, it said.

The Pakistan side, however, denied it accusing India of resorting to firing on its side hitting even residential areas. It accused India of targeting its positions opposite Uri and Krishna Ghati sector, killing its one jawan each on January 6 and 10.

Amidst accusations and counter accusations, the meeting ended at 1.32 pm with both sides insisted on each other to adhere to the 2003 ceasefire agreed upon between them.

The proposal for a flag meeting with Pakistan was mooted by India on Friday so as to de-escalate tension that had arisen along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir following Tuesday's raid by latter troops killing its two soldiers in Mendhar. The Pakistan, however, had accused India of targeting its positions in Haji Pir area opposite Uri killing its one jawan.

Ever since the escalation of situation along the LoC, Pakistan has resorted to ceasefire violations nearly a dozen times. Since Friday last, it has suspended cross LoC trade and passenger bus service on Poonch-Rawalakote road through Chakkan Da Bagh. However, both the cross LoC trade and travel on Uri-Muzaffrabad route in Valley goes on as usual.

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