Daily Times

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan and Indian armies made hotline contact on Monday night in the Rawalakot-Poonch Sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in the wake of Indian allegations that Pakistani troops had killed and mutilated the bodies of two Indian soldiers. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani local commander told his Indian counterpart that there had been no ceasefire violation or crossing of the LoC by Pakistani troops. “Indian authorities were (also) told that there is unnecessary media hype following the allegations, and that Pakistan remains fully committed to maintain[ing] peace and tranquility along the LoC and expects the same from the [India] side,” the ISPR statement added. According to the statement, the Pakistani commander expressed hope that prudence would be exercised across the divide and no steps taken that may affect peace along the LoC and lead to vitiating of the environment. A routine director generals military operations (DGMO)-level hotline is also likely today (Wednesday), the ISPR said. On Monday, the Indian army had alleged that Pakistani forces fired rockets and mortar bombs at two Indian posts across the LoC and mutilated the bodies of two of its soldiers in the patrol. However, the allegation was strongly refuted by the Pakistan Army. “Pakistan Army did not commit any ceasefire violation on the LoC or a Border Action Team (BAT) action in Battal sector (Krishna-Ghatti Sector) as alleged by India,” the ISPR had said. The ISPR had made it clear that not only the blame of mutilating the bodies of Indian soldiers was false, it was in sharp disregard to the values maintained by the Pakistan Army.