Last few days we
had been talking about revival of India-Pakistan bilateral cricket relations
and expressed hope for a positive chapter of amiable relations between the two
neighboring countries. But unfortunately today we are again jerked back into
the usual sticky atmosphere of suspicion, distrust and denial. Why and how the
same sore comes up again and again is the question that never gets answered.
Cricket or not cricket.
Taking advantage
of the dense fog and mist a group of Pakistan
troops infiltrated hundred meters into Indian Territory
across the Line of Control (LOC) in the Mendhar sector and ambushed an Indian
patrol party. The attackers brutally killed two Indian soldiers and injured
one. The marauders reportedly beheaded the two soldiers and carried one head
back into their country. This is a blatant violation of the LOC and ceasefire regulations. The brutal
act cannot be accepted in any form of military confrontation. We strongly
condemn this act and Pakistan
must answer. The cycle of the eternal denial must be broken now and once for
all.
The Government
of India has termed this brutal attack as ‘provocative action’ and condemned
it. The Government has vowed to “take up the incident with Pakistan Government
and expected Islamabad
to honor the ceasefire agreement strictly”. This Pakistan
action follows the firing of mortar shells towards Indian Army posts across the
LOC on January 6—the day the cricket teams of both the countries were meeting
in the India capital Delhi for the third one
day international match.
