Antony`s U-turn: `Pakistan Army involved in killing of Indian soldiers`

Amidst the uproar over his earlier statement on the killings of five Indian soldiers on LoC, Defence Minister AK Antony issued a fresh statement.

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Amidst the uproar over his earlier statement on the killings of five Indian soldiers along the Line of Control on Tuesday, Defence Minister AK Antony on Thursday issued a fresh statement in both the Houses of Parliament. Based on the briefing by Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh this morning, Antony clarified that a specialist group of the Pakistan Army was involved in the attack. No attack on the Indian Army is possible without the help of the Pakistani Army, said Antony, adding that the ties with Islamabad will also be reviewed. He also said that those in Pakistan who are responsible for this attack should not go unpunished, adding the incident will have consequences. Our restraint should not be taken for granted, the minister further warned. He told Pakistan to show determined action against terrorists and book the perpetrators of Mumbai attacks. Antony had on Tuesday told Parliament that "20 heavily-armed terrorists along with persons in Pakistan Army uniform" were responsible for the killings near the Line of Control. An earlier Defence Ministry statement - which was withdrawn later - had stated that the ambush was carried out by a Pakistani Border Action Team. It also said that the Pakistan Army was involved in the attack. Pakistani Border Action Teams comprise Pakistani Army regulars and militants. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members disrupted Parliament on Wednesday, saying Antony blamed "terrorists" and people "in military uniform" for the early Tuesday ambush while an earlier Army statement placed the blame on the Pakistan Army. Top BJP leaders yesterday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and conveyed that the government had created "a big problem" through Antony`s statement on the killing of five Indian soldiers. The BJP said Antony should apologise to the country for having given incorrect information and New Delhi should not hold talks with Islamabad. The Army Chief was in Jammu and Kashmir yesterday to review the security situation along the LoC. Singh had reviewed the security situation at Akhnoor-based 10 Division with commanders of the forward areas. The Army Chief will revisit the area soon. (With Agency inputs)