Indian soldiers lost lives in LoC attack: DG ISPR

BAGHSAR: DG ISPR Lt. Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa in press briefing to journalists on Saturday said that Indian soldiers lost lives during unprovoked firing at the Line of Control (LoC).

He added that the Indian army was not accepting loss of lives at their end. “We are certain they have suffered casualties. But why they are not admitting to this is a question which needs to be put to them,” he said.

Pakistan Army took independent journalists to the LoC at Baghsir 20 kilometers from Bhimber to show the situation on ground. According to DG ISPR, journalists had been invited for a press briefing so the "Indian lies could be revealed".

Briefing journalists, DG ISPR said Pakistan Army fought back valiantly and dismissed Indian claims of carrying out a surgical strike in Pakistan. 

Lt. Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa added we will do whatever we can to protect Pakistan. "No one should be mistaken we are ready to respond anywhere." 

DG ISPR further said the area is such that infiltration by Indian forces is impossible and the area is monitored in such a way that even movement of wildlife does not go undetected.

He denied Indian claims that paratroopers had entered Pakistan soil. “You have all heard that paratroopers landed in Pakistan. But where did they go then?” he said adding that the Pakistan Army would not let anyone infiltrate and escape.

He said that the troops had been trained to fight the War on Terror. “They are trained. The whole world recognizes their successes.”

It was further explained that choppers create enough sound to be detected and any attempt to land in the valley would amplify the sound further. 

DG ISPR stressed that while Pakistan has brought journalists to the LoC and is showing them the situation on ground, India is not allowing the same access to its own people which is suspicious.

The DG stressed that choppers were on standby and if journalists wished he would fly them to any of the five stations India claims it attacked and journalists could meet the troops and even meet the population so they can see the truth for themselves. 

General Bajwa said that he himself shared information about the two soldiers that embraced martyrdom adding that the media freely covered their funerals and that that those injured were sent to Jehlum CMH but they insisted on returning to service.

Indian forces on Saturday morning resorted to unprovoked firing across the Line of Control (LoC) inside Pakistani territory.

ISPR said Pakistani troops befittingly responded to Indian unprovoked firing which started at 4:00 AM and continued till 8:00 AM and LoC in Bhimbher sector.

On Thursday, two Pakistani soldiers embraced martyrdom when Indian forces resorted to unprovoked firing across the LoC.

The unprovoked fire was painted as a surgical strike by senior Indian officials, in a move apparently aimed to satisfy the public.

Pakistan rebuffed the claims with the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) saying, "There has been no surgical strike by India, instead there had been cross-border fire initiated and conducted by Indian forces which is an existential phenomenon".

Of late, tensions soared high between the two nuclear-armed adversaries over occupied Kashmir and an attack on Indian army's brigade headquarters in Uri, which left 18 soldiers dead.