New Delhi: The audacious attack on Indian troops in the Poonch sector on the Line of Control (LoC) in which five jawans were killed is likely to have been carried out by Pakistan's Special Services Group (SSG) along with terrorists.
The operatives of the Musa company of the SSG, which is tasked for carrying out such 'hit' operations, would have probably carried out the attack, Army sources said on Thursday.
According to the Indian Army, the SSG comprises seven battalions along with four company level formations. Musa company specialises in amphibious operations and tasks in riverine areas. In the January attack in which one Indian army jawan was beheaded by the Pakistan Army teams, SSG troops had taken part in the operations along with LeT terrorists. The SSG leads the Border Action Teams of Pakistan Army which also includes terrorist elements.
In his fresh statement in Parliament on Thursday on the Tuesday attack, Defence Minister A K Antony said that as per the information available with the Army "specialist troops" of the Pakistan Army were involved in the attack.
He also warned that the Tuesday incident will have ‘consequences’ on India's behaviour on the Line of Control and on relations with Pakistan.
"It is now clear that the specialist troops of Pakistan Army were involved in this attack when a group from Pakistan- occupied Kashmir (PoK) side crossed the LoC and killed our brave jawans," he said in the statement.
Antony asserted that nobody should doubt the government's resolve to uphold the sanctity of the LoC as also the capacity of armed forces and India's restraint should not be taken for granted. He maintained that his statement on Tuesday about the involvement of "terrorists along with persons dressed in Pakistan Army uniform" in the killing of five soldiers on LoC in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir was based on information available at that time. Since then the Chief of Army Staff has visited the area and gone into the details of the matter, he said.
"We all know that nothing happens from Pakistan side of LoC without support, assistance, facilitation and often, direct involvement of Pakistan Army," Antony said. He also said "naturally, this incident will have consequences on our behaviour on the LoC and for our relations with Pakistan".
Adopting a tough stance, Antony said the "brutal and unprovoked" attack on Indian side of the LoC in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir "outraged us all". Sending out a message to Pakistan, he said, "Our restraint should not be taken for granted; nor should the capacity of our armed forces and resolve of the Government to uphold the sanctity of LoC ever be doubted."
