Talking tough against Pakistan for the “gruesome and unpardonable” beheading of two Indian soldiers at Mendhar area of Jammu and Kashmir on January 8, Indian Army Chief General Bikram Singh on Monday termed it “a premeditated, pre-planned” game plan with “strategic implications”. He asked the Pakistan Army to be “accountable” for its action.
The Army Chief also asked his troops and commanders along the LoC to be “aggressive and offensive” against the adversary and hit back in case they are fired upon, implying that the Indian Army would show ‘zero tolerance’ to future ceasefire violations by the Pakistani forces.
His comments are expected to raise the hackles of Pakistan, which already seems itching for a limited conflict and hence provoking the Indian Army with a spurt in ceasefire violations and cross-border small arms and mortar fire.
“It (beheading of soldiers) is a gruesome and unpardonable act. We have lodged a strong protest both through the government and the Director General of Military Operations. This act defied all logic, rules of engagement and ethics of any professional military,” Gen Singh said at a press conference on the eve of Army Day here.
“When you see the sequence of events, it seems like a pre-planned, premeditated action. It is not possible for the Pakistan Army to carry out this operation without any preparation or reconnaissance. Their troops were poised for this action... this operation needs time and preparation. Any army needs 10 to 15 days or a minimum of seven to 10 days to carry out such action. But Pakistan’s Special Services Group carried it out within 50 hours,” he said.
“For the beheading at Mendhar, we (the Indian Army) reserve the right to retaliate at the time and place of our choosing. We will definitely retaliate for effect and it will be a local response. I expect my commanders to be aggressive and offensive on the LoC in the face of the adversary. I expect them not to be timid,” he said.