Pak wants to discuss handing over of bodies

The bodies of the three officers are currently in an Army mortuary in Delhi. All of them were from Pakistan’s Northern Light Infantry Regiment (NLI).

They have been identified as Major Asim Ahmed, company commander of 6 NLI , Captain Syed Asher Mehboob from 11 NLI and Captain Imtiaz of 69 Mortar Regiment on attachment with the NLI.

Today, the Army had more or less decided that they would bury the bodies of the Pakistani officers inside Delhi Cantonment tomorrow, with full military honours. All earlier attempts to hand over the bodies had ended in refusal from the Pakistani side.

Sources add that the DirectorGeneral of Military Operations (DGMO), in one final attempt, spoke to his Pakistani counterpart this morning and sounded him about the Army’s intentions.

“We expected that the Pakistani DGMO would react and agree to accept the bodies. But he did not comment,” says a senior officer. Army HQ then decided to go ahead with the burial.

A statement to this effect was readied and the necessary arrangements made. But everything was postponed at the last moment following “certain developments”: The Pakistan High Commission contacted MEA and Army HQ in the afternoon, saying they wanted to discuss the issue.

The outcome of the discussions were not known till late in the night. Sources, however, say that indications are that the Pakistan Government may accept the bodies. Discussions are going on even late at night.

According to Army HQ the burial was supposed to take place at 11 am on Wednesday. Now a final decision will be taken only later tomorrow, after the Pakistan High Commission conveys the decision ofits Government.

“Obviously, it is a piquant situation for them. If they decide to accept the bodies, they will also be admitting that their Army had intruded into Indian territory. If they don’t, they will lose face world over. Especially among their countrymen,” points out a senior officer.