THIS is apropos of your editorial ‘Poisoned atomsphere’ (Jan 18) in which you refer to the Indian media’s propaganda regarding the shooting of two Indian soldiers, one of whom they claim was mutilated and beheaded by Pakistan army troops.

First, I do not believe this could ever have happened and is a motivated and crudely-planned propaganda to dishonour the Pakistan army in the eyes of the world.

What is even more sinister is the fact that the Indian army wants to show that Pakistani troops comprise the Taliban element as well because this is a typical Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan procedure.

Recently a police check-post in Matani, Peshawar district, came under Taliban attack by a 400-strong force. When the police realised that they were in danger of being overrun they called for a back-up force.

SP Rural Shaukat Khan rushed with a strong contingent to Matan but he overshot the combat zone and came under direct attack that resulted in his death. The Taliban chopped off his head and took it with them.

The people of Peshawar were shocked; they realised that they were up against an enemy but they could never think of retaliating in kind.

They are Muslim soldiers and the Quran is extremely specific about the treatment of prisoners of war. However, there is a third force that has repeatedly tried to disrupt relations between India and Pakistan.

Whenever a major step was taken towards normalisation of relations, the Mujahideen vitiate the atmosphere by some major terrorist action in India as a consequence of which the two nations move back to square one.

Rehman Malik’s recent visa relaxation with India compelled the third force to act and they probably did it by crossing the line of control and beheading an Indian soldier (if what the Indians claim is true). Why doesn’t India realise that by giving the Kashmiris their right this lingering cancer will be removed forever!

WING CDR (Rtd) AHMED SHAH JAN Peshawar