Islamabad rejects the accusations and talks of "Indian propaganda". New Delhi terms it an "inhuman" act that threatens to undermine the peace process. Last week, a Pakistani military died during an Indian raid. War "without end" between the two countries, which had resumed talks in February 2012.

New Delhi (AsiaNews) - The murder and mutilation of two Indian military by Pakistani troops, in Jammu and Kashmir is an "inhuman" and "highly provocative" act. This is the comment of AK Anthony, the Indian Minister of Defense. The attack took place yesterday evening in Mendhar, 220km from the city of Jammu. According to New Delhi, the Pakistani Baloch Regiment troops crossed the border under the cover of a thick fog and opened fire. The attack lasted about 30 minutes, causing the death of two Indian soldiers and wounding a third. Islamabad has rejected the accusations of "unprovoked attack", calling them "Indian propaganda". However, the body of one of the victims was found beheaded and mutilated.

According to Pakistan, the accident was caused to "distract world attention" from the raid of January 6, in which a Pakistani soldier was killed during an Indian incursion. For Islamabad, New Delhi soldiers had crossed the Line of Control (LoC). The Indian armed forces have denied the charges.

Salman Kurshid, the Indian Minister of Foreign Affairs, has called the Pakistani High Commissioner (Ambassador, ed) Salman Bashir to discuss the situation. Kurshid described the killing and maiming of the military "a very sensitive issue" and "an attempt to derail dialogue." However, he added, "it is a matter which should be considered with great caution in its entirety," to be answered "in a proportionate manner."

That conflict between India and Pakistan seems to be an endless war. For over 60 years the region of Kashmir has been claimed in its entirety by both countries. In 1949, at the end of the first Indo-Pakistani conflict, the territory was divided: New Delhi took Jammu and Kashmir, Islamabad the Northern Territory and Azad Kashmir. That has not stopped the tensions between the two nations, which over the years have, however, tried to open a dialogue and stabilize relations.

India had stopped the peace process after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai in 2008. In February, the two neighbors resumed negotiations.

 

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• PAKISTAN
• kashmir
• military
• raid
• tensions