India using 'Pak card' for internal political manoeuvering: Islamabad

Lahore [Pakistan], May 4 (ANI): Strongly reacting to India's statement on mutilation of two Indian soldiers by Pakistan, Islamabad has hit back at New Delhi for using the 'Pakistan card' for manoeuvering its internal politics. In an interview with Radio Pakistan, Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria said that Pakistan has made it clear that no incident of mutilation of Indian soldiers has taken place. Earlier yesterday, Indian Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said Pakistan's denial of mutilation carries no credibility. Pakistan's denial of any cross Line of Control movement by its troops and mutilation of Indian soldiers' carries no credibility, said Jaitley. Jaitley said, "The denial itself carries no credibility because the entire gambit of circumstances clearly indicates that this barbaric act of first killing two of our soldiers and then neutralising their bodies has been carried out with the active participation of the army." "The facts that cover firings are provided to those who carry out this act. They help to escape on such a heavily guarded border where posts are in few meters of each other. This cannot happen without protection, participation or actual indulgence of the army itself," he added. New Delhi summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit yesterday, and lodged a protest against the killing and mutilation of Indian Army soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir. "Foreign Secretary summoned Pakistan High Commissioner, conveyed India's outrage, demands action against Pakistan soldiers and commanders responsible," said Baglay in a tweet. The Pakistan Army has denied India's charge of mutilating two of the latter's soldiers and described itself as a highly professional force that never disrespects any soldier. "Pakistan Army did not commit any ceasefire violation on the LoC or a BAT action in the Buttal sector (Indian Krishna Ghati Sector) as alleged by India. Indian blame of mutilating Indian soldiers' bodies is also false," the Inter Services Public Relation (ISPR) said in a statement. The Indian Army in its statement said, "Pakistan Army carried out unprovoked Rocket and Mortar firing on two forward posts on the line of control in Krishna Ghati Sector. Simultaneously, a BAT action was launched on a patrol operating in between the two posts. In an unsoldierly act by the Pak Army the bodies of two of our soldiers in the patrol were mutilated. Such despicable act of Pakistan Army will be appropriately responded." (ANI)