Reports of Indian Army beheading Pakistani soldiers in the past totally baseless: Antony

New Delhi: Defence Minister AK Antony has hit back at Pakistan for claiming that Indian soldiers were involved in the beheading of Pakistani soldiers. Calling the reports 'totally baseless', Antony said, "A series of reports coming on Kargil also show that even though at the moment after the second round of talks at the DGMO level, situation at the LOC is better but we can't lower our guards, we have to be vigilant 24/7."

A report in national daily The Hindu had earlier said that Pakistan had complained to the UN Military Observor Group that India had beheaded 12 of its soldiers in cross-border attacks since 1998.

This comes amidst tension between the two countries over the killing of two Indian soldiers at the Line of Control on January 8. One of the soldiers was beheaded allegedly by the Pakistani soldiers. Pakistan had denied any role in the brutal attack but Intelligence reports accessed by CNN-IBN on Tuesday suggested otherwise.

A report in The Hindu had earlier said that Pakistan had complained that India had beheaded 12 of its soldiers since 1998.

The reports claimed that the operation was led by a serving ISI subedar, Jabbar Khan, of a unit based in Tattapani in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Others in the team were 15 members of the Lashkar and the Jaish-e-Mohammad. The beheading was carried out by the Lashkar's Anwar Khan, for which he was rewarded Rs five lakh.

The attack was meticulously planned over a fortnight. The ambush party was stationed at Barmoch border outpost in PoK. This is directly across the Atma Post held by the Rajputana Rifles. The Lashkar team monitored the movement and deployment of the Indian Army personnel. A day after the attack, the ambush party was spotted at Tattapani in PoK.

Incidentally, Anwar Khan was also involved in the beheading of an Indian Army captain in 1996 in the Krishna Ghati area.

Reports said in the past two weeks, senior brigadier level ISI officers have held meetings with terrorist commanders. Local guides familiar with the area are being drafted to facilitate infiltration and other movement by terrorist groups across the LoC near Poonch. Pakistani Army units too have been asked to recruit local villagers living near the LoC to act as guides.

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