Series of armed skirmishes between India and Pakistan in Kashmir
The 2013 India–Pakistan border incidents was a series of armed skirmishes along the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Kashmir area. Starting from the mid-January 2013, they have been described as the "worst bout of fighting in the region in nearly 10 years". It began on 6 January 2013, when according to Pakistani reports Indian forces attacked a Pakistani border post, killing one soldier. Indian authorities claimed the incident as a retaliation against preceding Pakistani ceasefire violations, but denied having crossed the demarcation line. In a second skirmish on 8 January, Indian authorities said that Pakistani forces crossed the LoC, killing two Indian soldiers. The incident sparked outrage in India and harsh reactions by the Indian army and government over the news that the body of one of the soldiers had been beheaded. Pakistan denied these reports. On 15 January, a third skirmish reportedly led to the death of another Pakistani soldier.
After talks between Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia and Major General Ashfaq Nadeem, an understanding was reached to de-escalate the situation. But the skirmishes continued despite peace efforts by the countries resulting in 8 Indian casualties in total and 9 Pakistani casualties till August. Civilians were also affected adversely by the border skirmishes.
On 9 October 2014, Indian media claimed that a total of 9 military personnel and 6 civilians were killed on Pakistani side. 9 Indian soldiers and 1 civilian were killed on Indian side.
Incidents.
In January.
According to the Indian Army, the skirmish lasted for approximately 30 minutes, after which the intruders retreated from the Indian territory. Two soldiers, Lance Naik Hemraj and Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh, were killed and their bodies were apparently found mutilated, with one decapitated. The bodies were then recovered and the injured soldiers were airlifted and admitted to the Indian Army's Command Hospital. The Military Intelligence of India claimed that the operation was carried out by Anwar Khan, from Azad Kashmir, who was hired by the Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence for Rs. 0.5 million ().
Reactions.
India.
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The reaction in India was overwhelmingly one of anger. Then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that this incident had seriously damaged the ongoing peace process and "after this dastardly act, there can’t be business as usual with Pakistan." Bikram Singh, the Chief of Army Staff of India said that "We reserve the right to retaliate at a time of our choosing." Bikram Singh also said,"The attack on January 8 was premeditated, a pre-planned activity. Such an operation requires planning, detailed reconnaissance."
Then Indian Leader of Opposition, Sushma Swaraj said that "If Pakistan does not return the severed head of the martyred soldier Hemraj, India should get at least 10 heads from the other side". She also said that the Indian government had to avenge the death of the two soldiers. Protests took place outside the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi, and the protesters painted "Pakistan Murdabad" (Death to Pakistan) on its walls.
The Indian Army also released the photos of landmines planted by Pakistan in Indian-controlled land, though Pakistan refused to acknowledge any such act.
The then Indian Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde alleged on 9 January that the 2008 Mumbai attacks mastermind and Lashkar-e-Toiba founder Hafiz Saeed has visited the Indo-Pakistani border a few days before the Indian soldiers were killed. He cited intelligence obtained by Indian intelligence agencies, and said that they were trying to obtain more details on the visit. However, Saeed rejected the claim, calling it a "blatant lie" and challenged the Indian government to prove the allegation. He said that India was trying to shift focus from its internal problems and was exploiting the sentiments against Pakistan.
Pakistan.
The Pakistan military information sources, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), rejected the allegation that the incident was unprovoked, calling the Indian presentation of events as "propaganda" to divert international attention from an earlier incident on 6 January, when a Pakistani soldier was killed by Indian troops in what was claimed by Pakistan as an Indian violation of the Line of Control. Pakistani officials also welcomed an investigation from the UN. "The Washington Post" quoted an Indian security official admitting that the 8 January incident may have "come in retaliation" for the 6 January incident in which Indian troops had killed the Pakistani soldier.
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The Foreign Office of Pakistan stated that it had summoned the Deputy Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad during which a protest note was handed on the "unprovoked Indian attack" and the Government of India "was strongly urged to take appropriate measures to avoid recurrence of such incidents in the future." Earlier in January 2013, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said to the media that she was "unpleasantly surprised" by India's accusations. She further said that "Pakistan's government and its people have demonstrated a deep and abiding commitment to normalize and improve relations with India and to really start a journey of trust-building."
In an interview with "Times Now", former President and chief of army staff General Pervez Musharraf similarly refuted allegations of any Indian soldier being mutilated by the Pakistani military, pointing out that this was not part of army discipline and culture. He also criticised India's tendency of painting "us as rogues when you yourself are not prepared to admit all the cruelty that you inflict on us" and India's decision of sending back Pakistani artists and hockey players, adding: "The politicians, media, everyone in India have a tendency to be hysterical about everything." Responding to the incident to media, senior fleet commander, Vice-Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah quoted that, "Pakistan has ability to answer the disturbance of border." Addressing the media representatives at the ISPR directorate, Admiral Zakaullah noted to media that "Pakistan forces are prepared for any critical situation." Answering the question of Indian Army's further capabilities, Admiral Zakaullah said that Pakistan was not concerned due to New Delhi's ground capability as it had the ability to defend itself from against any aggression.
In August, protestors in Muzaffarabad of Azad Kashmir protested against India's attacks during which they chanted anti-India and pro-Kashmir slogans. In the aftermath of the August incidents, Pakistan considered withdrawing diplomatic staff from its High Commission in New Delhi and redeploying troops positioned on the Afghan border towards the Line of Control. The Provincial Assembly of Punjab passed a unanimous resolution against India's violations of the LoC and expressed concern over the killing of Pakistani soldiers and civilians, in addition to calling on the federal government to raise the issue at international forums. The Parliament of Pakistan adopted a unanimous resolution similarly condemning the incidents and demanded the Pakistan government to take up the issue with India in a "forceful but prudent manner".
Pakistan has also temporarily abandoned talks on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan–Pakistan–India pipeline with India.
International reactions.
Effect on India-Pakistan relations.
Due to the tensions building between the two nations and as a sign of protest, the Indian Government on 15 January decided to send back the Pakistani hockey players who were in India to participate in the Hockey India League.
The Indian government has put on hold a plan to issue visas to Pakistani senior citizens on arrival in India. Though the government sources initially mentioned that the agreement was delayed, a senior home ministry official said that the deal was put on hold for some time.
After a brief phone conversation between Indian Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia and his Pakistani counterpart Major General Ashfaq Nadeem, an Indian spokesman told that the Indian Army has reached an understanding with Pakistan to de-escalate the situation. Pakistan's DGMO conveyed that his troops had been ordered to observe the ceasefire at the LoC strictly and exercise restraint.
Media coverage.
India.
In the backdrop of the border incident, Indian television news anchors questioned the peace process and cultural and sporting ties between India and Pakistan. The Indian government spoke of the "barbaric and inhuman mutilation" of the corpses and denounced the "ghastly" and "dastardly" act.
Saikat Datta for the Daily News and Analysis suggested that Indian army units in the Uri sector could have provoked the incident.
Pakistan.
Ali Ahmed, a freelance journalist who writes for the "Express Tribune", wrote that media coverage in Pakistan was not very extensive was partially due to focus being diverted to Pakistan's upcoming general elections – which was only weeks away – and the fallout of the War in North-West Pakistan.
References.
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