PM breaks silence with tough talk
16 Jan 2013 7:06 AM IST
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh chose the Army Day reception hosted by Chief of Army Staff General Bikram Singh on Tuesday to spell out toughening of Indian stand vis-a-vis Pakistan following the ongoing tension along the Line of Control (LoC). When asked about the decision to put the new visa-on-arrival regime for Pakistan’s senior citizens on hold, the PM said, ‘After this barbaric act (beheading of Indian soldiers), there cannot be business as usual with Pakistan.’
In a mood to counter allegations that he took a soft line towards Pakistan, Singh said, ‘Those responsible for this crime (beheading) will have to be brought to book, (hope) Pakistan realises this.’ Earlier in the day, India sent back nine Pakistani players who were here to participate in the Hockey India League.
When it was pointed out that Pakistan was in a denial mode, Singh said ‘we will keep trying’ and added that there were several options (to bring pressure on Pakistan) which could not be discussed in the open. He later went to Rashtrapati Bhawan to brief President Pranab Mukherjee on the matter.
In the morning, the PM deputed National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon to brief senior BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley on the situation prevailing on the LoC.
External Affairs minister Salman Khurshid too said that India has taken a ‘very firm position’ on the beheading issue as the act is ‘totally unacceptable and barbaric.’ Khurshid indicated that though engagement with Pakistan will be affected, there will be no total freeze. Asked whether India has set any timeline for Pakistan to act, Khurshid said, ‘There is no timeline. But we are actually pressing (Pakistan) very hard.’ Referring to Monday’s flag meeting, he said, ‘We may not be happy with the outcome but the process is still on.’
Meanwhile, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen KT Parnaik has accused Pakistan army of violating ceasefire thrice after the flag meeting. He said a hotline call was made to register protest as Pak forces fired just not from small arms, but even resorted to mortar shelling. After the protest, firings stopped.
In a mood to counter allegations that he took a soft line towards Pakistan, Singh said, ‘Those responsible for this crime (beheading) will have to be brought to book, (hope) Pakistan realises this.’ Earlier in the day, India sent back nine Pakistani players who were here to participate in the Hockey India League.
When it was pointed out that Pakistan was in a denial mode, Singh said ‘we will keep trying’ and added that there were several options (to bring pressure on Pakistan) which could not be discussed in the open. He later went to Rashtrapati Bhawan to brief President Pranab Mukherjee on the matter.
In the morning, the PM deputed National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon to brief senior BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley on the situation prevailing on the LoC.
External Affairs minister Salman Khurshid too said that India has taken a ‘very firm position’ on the beheading issue as the act is ‘totally unacceptable and barbaric.’ Khurshid indicated that though engagement with Pakistan will be affected, there will be no total freeze. Asked whether India has set any timeline for Pakistan to act, Khurshid said, ‘There is no timeline. But we are actually pressing (Pakistan) very hard.’ Referring to Monday’s flag meeting, he said, ‘We may not be happy with the outcome but the process is still on.’
Meanwhile, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen KT Parnaik has accused Pakistan army of violating ceasefire thrice after the flag meeting. He said a hotline call was made to register protest as Pak forces fired just not from small arms, but even resorted to mortar shelling. After the protest, firings stopped.
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