5 INDIAN SOLDIERS KILLED IN PAK AMBUSH ALONG POONCH LOC
A.K. Antony Stuns Nation in Parliament Calling Killers "Persons Dressed in Military Uniforms"
In the dead of night on 6 August 2013, a Pakistani Border Action Team (BAT) comprising 21 Baloch Regiment regulars crossed the LoC and ambushed an Indian Army patrol at Sarla post in Poonch, killing five Indian soldiers.
Making a formal statement in Parliament, Defense Minister A.K. Antony sparked nationwide outrage when he watered down the Indian Army's official communique and stated that "about 20 heavily armed terrorists along with persons dressed in Pakistan Army uniforms" carried out the attack, effectively giving the Pakistan Army plausible deniability.
Faced with massive protests and parliamentary adjournments, Antony was forced to retract his statement and issue a correction days later.
📌 Key Figures & Decision Makers
- ▸ A.K. Antony (Defense Minister)
- ▸ Pak Army 21 Baloch Regiment
- ▸ Manmohan Singh
- • Lok Sabha Debates on Poonch LoC Incursion and Defense Minister Statements (Parliament of India, 2013)