NEW DELHI: The Indian Army chief, General Bikram Singh, on Monday admitted the killing of 10 Pakistan Army soldiers as he levelled allegations of ceasefire violations on Pakistani troops.
“Let me assure you that action has been taken. I can invite the attention to the Geo TV report on December 23, which talked of their one officer and nine Jawans being killed with 12-13 being wounded. This has happened due to the firing of your soldiers on ground. They have done their bit,” he said addressing the annual Army Day press conference here.
In a warning to Pakistan, Gen Bikram Singh vowed to respond in equal measure if Pakistan broke any rules as he revealed that 10 Pakistani soldiers had been killed in a recent military action.
He rejected the perception that the Indian military had not retaliated against the beheading of its soldiers by Pakistani troops last year. Gen Singh said it was virtually a “mini war at the local level” whenever a ceasefire violation took place at the Line of Control (LoC).
“The soldiers are doing a stupendous job. The local units are doing a good job. The soldiers have reacted well and they have reacted well as required,” he asserted.
When referred to the alleged repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan at the LoC, the Indian army chief said,
“It depends, if rules are followed by our neighbours, we follow the rules. If rules are broken, obviously we cannot stick to the rules. Even we are going to break the rules.”
“We will pay Pakistan back in the same coin,” added the Indian Army chief.At the same time, he said that through retaliation, the “endeavour is not to escalate the situation into operational or strategic arena. It is to deal with the same measure if not more and give a befitting response in a professional manner at place where we are fired upon.”
Indian Army chief admits to killing of 10 Pak soldiers - thenews.com.pk
To those who think that the Indian Army does not respond to provocation, this is proof enough that adequate counter measures are taken and a befitting response given to those who don't abide by the rules of the game.
These Pakistani Casualties he was referring to were probably in the Keran Sector where a group of 35 to 40 well-entrenched terrorists infiltrators supported by Pakistani troops had tried to occupy an area inside an abandoned village on the Indian side in the biggest infiltration bid across the Line of Control in Oct 2013.
There were reports that 10-15 terrorists were killed too, but this has not been confirmed.