Amid demands by MPs for a befitting reply to Pakistan for killing the soldiers and repeated ceasefire violations, Defence Minister A K Antony told the Rajya Sabha that the government has taken "very very seriously" the August 6 incident and the "mood" of the House and the nation will be factored into the actions to preserve the sanctity of the LoC.
Making a suo motu statement on the August 6 killing of five Indian soldiers in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir, Antony said, "Naturally, this incident will have consequences on our behaviour on the LoC and for our relations with Pakistan.
"Our restraint should not be taken for granted nor should the capacity of our armed forces and resolve of the government to uphold the sanctity of the LoC ever be doubted."
The Defence Minister tried to defend his initial controversial statement in Parliament that "20 heavily armed terrorists along with persons dressed in Pakistan Army uniform" were responsible for the killing, saying that was based on the information available at that time.
"At 2 O'clock, the incident took place... There was some confusion in Kashmir. It is there. I won't say here. That won't help us.... They were in doubt. I don't want to say in detail," he said.
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