Mumbai, India. Relations between the nuclear armed south western nations have turned even worse lately following a bizarre beheading attack of two Indian nationals by allegedly Pakistani regular army troops.
India has summoned Pakistan’s high commissioner as tensions between the two nuclear neighbors continued to rise following an alleged beheading of two Indian soldiers. India claims that Pakistani forces were responsible for the killing and mutilation of two members of its security forces recently, in the contested region of Kashmir.
“We have proof it was carried out by the Pakistan army,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Twattli Bagmey said at a briefing, according to reporters present. “We have demanded from Pakistan that whoever from their Army was behind this incident be punished.”
Pakistan has denied the allegations, but India has doubled down that it has “concrete evidence” and has vowed revenge on Pakistan for the attacks.
Abdul Bashit had been summoned by India’s Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to register the country’s protest over the killings. “He, of course, denied that the Pakistani army was involved, but assured he will convey contents of our demarche to his government,” Bagmey said.
Both nations claim the Himalayan region but rule it only in part. A 2003 cease-fire has been punctured in recent months by sporadic cross-border attacks, with India repeatedly blaming Pakistan for attacks on its troops by militants.
India has vowed to retaliate for the latest incident. “I do not want to say what we will do,” Vice Chief of Army Staff Sarath Chand was quoted as saying by Indian news. “Instead of speaking, we will focus on an action at a time and place of our choosing. The Pakistani army have said it was not done by their forces, but they will have to take responsibility and face consequences for it.”
In attempts to simmer down the dispute, China had been seen as a possible mediator. Beijing now has a particular interest in the region due to its investments in a collection of infrastructure projects in Pakistan.