LoC killings: ‘Decision to change army inputs taken at highest level’

While some officials said that the stock line on violence along LoC always blames the Pak army,sources said,caution was advised in the absence of any clear proof.

However,sources said,the government was caught in a bind after the BJP stepped up pressure and called for stopping the dialogue with Pakistan. This was reaffirmed forcefully by the BJP top brass at today’s meeting with the Prime Minister.

The problem for the government,sources said,is that it stalled the dialogue process over the beheading of an Indian soldier in January when the government went on record to blame Pakistan Army regulars. A similar admission this time would have strengthened the BJP’s demand to withhold talks,a “strategically undesirable” objective for the government as it does not want to accentuate acrimony with Pakistan’s new government.

Moreover,sources said,blaming the Pakistan Army would force Sharif to take a hard stand against India,which would virtually derail the peace process at this crucial juncture.

But with the BJP drawing a red line on its demand for a clarification by Defence Minister A K Antony,the government is now looking to make the point that it’s not absolving the Pak Army but is awaiting more evidence. In this context,Army Chief Bikram Singh’s feedback would be crucial as it would indicate the nature of evidence available to level charges against Pakistan.

Meanwhile,the BJP top brass — Rajnath Singh,LK Advani,Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley — raised their strong objection to what they called was Antony’s alleged “dilution” of the statement to provide an “escape route” to Pakistan. They reiterated their demands of an apology from Antony and a suspension of talks with Pakistan at their meeting with PM.

“It was made plain and clear (at the meeting) that Defence Minister will have to withdraw his earlier statement and present a correct statement before both the Houses regarding the LoC incident,” said a BJP source. “This is not time to hold a dialogue. Certainly not at the level of Prime Minister.”

The Government side,led by the Prime Minister,was learnt to have said that “greater clarity” was expected after the Army Chief returns from the front.

The Prime Minister was learnt to have sought the BJP’s cooperation on the issue of the land boundary agreement with Bangladesh but BJP leaders were learnt to have refrained from committing their support and instead suggested that the government should get all stakeholders (West Bengal,North-East) on board before considering a Constitution amendment.

“The government should first make it (agreement) palatable to the people,” the BJP leaders were learnt to have told the government in response to the PM’s appeal for cooperation. “Otherwise,a Telangana-like situation may erupt there as well.”