Defence experts fear India will be seen 'bending down too low' by talking to Pak

Defence experts on Thursday said India would be dismissed as a 'soft state' if Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh goes ahead with talks with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, after fresh attacks by militants in Jammu and Kashmir earlier today.

Lt. General (Retired) P.N. Hoon lashed out at the UPA-led Central Government for its soft attitude and said it's time that our well-equipped army took stringent action.

"I think we are bending down too low by having these talks. You have seen what has happened: the talks are on and the attacks are on. This is one of the biggest attacks in recent past, let alone those two beheading and other (incidents). There have been lot of causalities," Hoon said.

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Labeling the talks as pointless, defense analyst Captain (Retired.) Bharat Verma on Thursday also shared the same sentiment and said that if dialogue takes place between the two countries in New York, it will send a damaging signal to the world on India's stance on being attacked.

"The talk is not going to work. You need to have a carrot and stick policy.So many attacks on India are happening, and now with this attack if even now the Prime Minister wants to talk with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, it is not just a waste of time, it will only send a signal that no matter what you do, India will not use Danda (stick), India will only dialogue. India is a soft state," said Bharat Verma in New Delhi.

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Verma added that government should ensure the military uniform of the Indian Armed forces is not freely available in open markets.

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"Military is very distinct and it should remain very distinguished and its uniform should not be openly available in the open market. It should only be sold by ordinance only to the army, air force and navy," said Verma.

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In a major attack, terrorists dressed in army fatigues have killed at least 12 people in a police station in Hiranagar in Kathua district and at an Army cantonment nearby this morning.

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Over a dozen people are injured and more casualties are feared.

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The militants first attacked a police station in Hiranagar of Kathua district. According to reports, six policemen and three civilians have been killed in the attack on the police station.

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The militants later intercepted a truck on the highway, boarded it and forced its driver to move towards Jammu. The militants stopped the vehicle near the gate of an army camp in Samba and attacked the camp.

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The militants started firing inside the army area, initiating the encounter with the security personnel.

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A gun-battle is still on. Further details are awaited.