Five Indian soldiers have been killed in a Pakistani attack on an Indian Army post along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir. A group of six soldiers of 21st Battalion of the Bihar Regiment, which is deployed in the sector, were patrolling the border on Monday night when they were ambushed at Chakan da Bagh by 15 to 16 of the Pakistani intruders. Pakistani soldiers had entered the Indian side of the LoC and ambushed an Indian post called Saral late on Monday night. CNN-IBN's senior editor Suhasini Haidar joined IBNLive readers for an interaction on the issue.
Q. Such things are bound to happen with the present state of governance. Pakistan and China would surely take action and embarrass India as they know the Govt is busy fire fighting to try and win the next elections. the govt does not loose anything as far as votes are concerned with such incidents but it is the poor armed forces personnel who get killed and they are soon forgotten. Do you agree with this view? Asked by: AKS
A. Hello everyone...great to be chatting again, although the news is tragic today. AKS, your question is valid at a macro-strategic level. But the LoC firing has been at a much higher level on the ground...more than 47 ceasefire violations since January, compared to 29 last year in the same period. So I think our government needs to be better prepared at the borders and LoC
Q. Can't we predict such an action by our neighbours as they know the weak govt at the centre does not have the guts to take appropriate action and are not bothered about our soldiers being killed. Did it not happen when our soldiers were beheaded and the politician and press made a lot of noise but today these brave soldiers have gone into the achieves. Wont the same thing happen to the four soldiers now killed? Asked by: Anonymous
A. You're right...the scary part is the words just dont meet the actions. Also, there is a real need to analyse what happens during these events. During the January event, there had been killings of Pakistani soldiers too (4 pak soldiers were killed, 2 indian, during that flare-up). We must know the full story, and judge the correct response accordingly.
Q. We need to have more security measures in place, when US withdraws troops from Afghanistan. With the recent change in Pak regime, there is always bound to be renewed efforts in militancy. What steps has the govt taken for border patrolling. Also is there a mechanism to ensure use of technology to monitor infiltration. Asked by: EM
A. You are quite right, EM. India must get better on surveillance, as well as the ability to monitor the LoC and the border better. How is it possible that these men are able to cross into Indian territory so frequently?
Q. Give peace a chance. Sure, but only if the person across the table is not killing your people on a regular basis.Why are we conducting sports, having musical night with the very same country killing our soldiers and infiltrating terrorists? Asked by: Abdul Malik
A. Abdul, I think you have to make a differentiation here..talks are not the solution, but the medium to a solution. Neighbours are always going to need to talk. Secondly, are there violations only on one side? I guess not, and certainly one would expect an Indian retaliation to such incidents. Thirdly, sporting, musical and other ties are with people, and they must continue to be encouraged.
Q. Suhasini, The General impression which I get as I read such things is to construct/create a De Militarised Zone (although the terrain is difficult) to be monitored by UN Peace Keeping forces. Can such an option be thought off? Asked by: G.Viswanathan
A. Thanks for the qun. A demilitarised zone is certainly feasible, but I doubt either side would accept monitoring by UN forces.
Q. Do these recent violations and infiltration attempts point to the revival of Militancy in Kashmir? Asked by: Zaed
A. Absolutely, they certainly will try. In fact the number of ceasefire violations have doubled, and so have infiltration bids. That can only point to heightened militant activity in J&K. Qun is how is the govt preparing.
Q. Now the militants who escaped Pakistan prison, would be seeking place for action, and Pakistan would be kind enough to push those terror elements to India.Don,t we need a state of art technological security in the border, enhanced by our soldiers. Asked by: Prakash Jha
A. Yes absolutely...good fences with all possible technology.
Q. Pak Govt Already denied that Pak army involved in it, do you think India should take a stern action against Pak or it is Business as usual? Asked by: Alok
A. Alok, first we need to know just what happened. How do Indian patrols and Indian posts get over-run like this? How do infiltrators come so far into Indian territory? Secondly is it true there was firing in Poonch sector on saturday that killed 1 Pakistani soldier, as their ISPR had claimed. Third is what the response should be..if this is military aggression, it can hardly be tackled only diplomatically, however, if this is part of a larger problem, then maybe only diplomacy can fix it.
Q. Is Pakistan accepting that its violating cease fire or wearing a god boy mask still? What's the reaction of the Pakistan Media on this gruesome incident? Asked by: Ragu D
A. Pakistan's ISPR is denying the incident entirely... officials saying there was no "unprovoked firing". Newspapers are covering India's reaction to the killings so far. Government is yet to react.
Q. Suhasini, I guess you have a different point of view than me because I have a brother in law stationed at LOC right now. Every time an incident like this happens we all are afraid. I guess, ordinary Indians are expendable. I wish the so called leaders had a son or a daughter at LOC. Asked by: Abdul Malik
A. Abdul, I have had relatives posted at the LoC too, and can understand what you're saying. Not sure how that changes our vision of the problem. Nobody is expendable.
Q. Are we getting to used to these attacks just like scams?why cant we gear up to give a fitting reply. Asked by: suresh
A. Sadly so
Q. Is India a soft state? Asked by: Kelly
A. Yes, Kelly, that seems to be evident.
Q. Why is every time such an incident happens when we loose jawans we are only asked to be calm? Asked by: anil merani
A. The correct decision can only be taken when one is calm, I guess, Anil. Thanks for the qun. You reflect the anger many are feeling today.
Q. The matter is reported an ambush.does it mean that they way laid the patrol? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. Yes Sundar, I guess that's what the army means. they said the patrol party had 6 soldiers, and were overpowered by 15-16 men who were able to cross into the Indian side after being assisted by cover from Pakistani troops firing.
Q. Is a retaliation by Indian Jawans a good option? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. Am sure one will be planned.
Q. There are vested interests across the board who do not want a peaceful coexistence of India and Pakistan. We are witness to these kind of incidents whenever there is talk of revocation of AFSPA in Kashmir or the resumption of peace talks.All it needs a imaginative political will from both sides rather than outsourcing it to military and intelligence agencies of both sides. Asked by: Altaf
A. Certainly it happens too many times or it to be mere coincidence. Even so an attack like this one cannot go unpunished.There is no justification for an ambush of Indian soldiers guarding the borders and killing them in this way. That's it folks, thanks very much for joining the chat.
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