India shows blood trail evidence, demands action

“It also demanded action against the perpetrators of the ‘barbaric act’ on May 1 in Krishna Ghati sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. Basit was summoned by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar to convey India’s ‘outrage at the killing and the barbaric act of mutilation of the bodies of two Indian soldiers on May 1, 2017 by Pakistani Army personnel,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay said.

India also told Pakistan the killing of the soldiers was ‘a strong act of provocation’ and in contravention of all norms of civilised conduct, he said. 

Baglay said it was significant that the attack was preceded by covering fire from Pakistani posts in Battal sector (in vicinity of village Battal).

Blood samples collected from the site matched with the blood of the two Indian security personnel, he said, adding the ‘blood trail’ shows that the perpetrators who entered the Indian side from Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), returned from where they came from. 

However, he did not clarify whether the ‘blood samples and the blood trail’ were of same person or different individuals. Asserting that India has ‘enough evidence’ that the act was committed by the Pakistan Army regulars who crossed the LoC, Baglay said this has been shared with the Pakistan high commissioner. Asked about the response of Basit, the spokesperson said, “Of course, the Pakistani envoy denied the involvement of his country’s Army. However, he said he will convey the content of the demarche to his government.” 

On why India was still continuing with the ‘most favoured nation’ (MFN) status to Pakistan, the spokesperson said the MFN tag to Pakistan is an obligation for WTO members and all members have to extend it to each other. Indian troops on Wednesday opened “speculative fire” along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district. Speculative fire is normally used to check movement of suspicious persons along the border.