Five times when Pakistan dragged its feet, fuelling standoff with India
The recent Pathankot attack in Punjab threatened to derail the peace initiative undertaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The opposition was already up in arms against Modi extending the olive branch to Nawaz Sharif who promised an impartial probe into the attacks. While many dismissed it as mere lip service, Pakistan for the first time took stock and arrested several JeM terrorists over the airbase attack.
Following are five major incidents where Pakistan refused to take any responsibility and even if it did, all it offered India was an eyewash.
26/11 Mumbai attacks
On November 26, 2008, 10 Pakistani terrorists arrived by sea route and opened fire indiscriminately at people killing 166, including 18 security personnel, and injuring several others in Mumbai.
The incident fractured ties between India and Pakistan for almost seven years as New Delhi concluded Islamabad only offered lip service but no real progress in the probe.
India had repeatedly been demanding trial of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, against whom Interpol also issued Red Corner Notice for his alleged role in the 26/11 Mumbai attack. Islamabad, however, claimed that India had only shared information about Saeed and no evidence and refused to comply with the demand.
2001 Parliament attack
On December 13, 2001, five heavily-armed Jaish-e-Mohammad stormed the Parliament complex in New Delhi and opened indiscriminate fire, killing nine persons.
The incident led to a major military standoff between India and Pakistan, with the western media speculating that it could lead to a full blown nuclear war between the two countries.
India accused Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism and the country vehemently denied these charges. Tensions de-escalated between the countries only after an international mediation.
2015 Gurdaspur attack
In July, 2015, three terrorists, believed to be of Lashker-e-Taiba terror group, had sneaked in from Ravi river at the Punjab border and attacked a police station in Dina Nagar, killing seven people.
All evidence pointed to Pakistan's role, even the US confronted Islamabad with the proof but nothing came of it.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh talked tough against Pakistan, saying that '"Any effort by the enemies of our nation to undermine India's territorial integrity and security or imperil the safety and security of our citizens will meet an effective and forceful response from our security forces."
The incident also affected cricketing ties between the two countries, with the BCCI ruling out resumption of any Indo-Pak series.
Beheading of Indian soldier in 2013
India and Pakistan were engaged in a major stand-off in January 2013 after Pakistani troops along with their Special Forces and LeT terrorists intruded and mutilated the bodies of two soldiers Lance Naiks Sudhakar Singh and Hemraj and beheaded one of them.
The then Army chief Bikram Singh had ordered the army to mount a massive response, including artillery fire, if such an instance of ‘provocation’ was repeated by the Pakistani army.
The incident led to massive uproar across the country and threatened to derail peace talks between the country until the matter was finally resolved when the Director Generals of Military Operations of both countries held talks over the phone.
Torture of Captain Kalia during Kargil war
Captain Kalia, along with five other soldiers, was taken prisoner by Pakistani troops during the Kargil war in 1999. They were held captive and allegedly tortured before their bodies were handed back to India June 9, 1999.
This incident had caused an uproar across the nation, as the torturing of prisoners of war (pow) is against the Geneva Convention.
However, Pakistan has consistently denied the charges of torture, stating that the soldiers died because of poor weather conditions.
The Indian govt said would look at approaching the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Pakistan over the brutal torture and death of the Kargil martyr.
