Indian gov't absolves Pakistan from killings of soldiers: main opposition

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NEW DELHI, Aug. 7 -- India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday slammed the country's government for "giving clean chit" to Islamabad over the killing of five Indian Army personnel along the international border allegedly by Pakistani intruders in the wee hours of Tuesday.

Senior BJP leaders came down heavily on Indian Defense Minister A.K. Antony who Tuesday told the Parliament that the killings were carried out by "terrorists along with persons dressed in Pakistan Army uniform," contrary to Indian Army's initial claims that some Pakistani soldiers were among the intruders.

"A.K. Antony has let the country down. He should apologize to India," BJP's Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha (the lower house of Parliament) Sushma Swaraj said.

Senior BJP leader and the country's former External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha said the Indian Defense Minister has made the "most laughable comments" and it seemed he "is on the Pakistan Army's side".

The ambush on an Indian Army post allegedly by 15 to 16 Pakistani intruders along the international border in Poonch sector of Indian-controlled Kashmir triggered massive outrage in Indian parliament Tuesday.

While the Indian Army initially claimed that some Pakistani soldiers were among the intruders who carried out the attack, it later changed its version after Antony said that it was "only the terrorists" who were behind the killings of five Indian soldiers.

Pakistan has denied any involvement in the killings of Indian soldiers.

Meanwhile, India has said the proposed talks between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the United Nations in New York next month "is on," despite BJP and other opposition parties calling for cancellation of the meeting.

"Talks should continue. Talks shouldn't break, talks, not war is a solution," Congress leader P.C. Chacko said.

India and Pakistan often blame each other of ceasefire violations along the Line of Control. The two countries have fought at least three major wars over the disputed territory of Kashmir in the past 60 years.

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