Nay Pyi Taw, Dec 14 : India today justified its stand of not raising Kargil martyr Saurabh Kalia case in the International Court of Justice, saying this was a bilateral issue and it has always maintained that there should be “non-interference” by ICJ in “bilateral or internal” matters.
“And this (Kalia) is obviously a bilateral matter between India and Pakistan and therefore, the position we have taken in ICJ for a very very good reason,” External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said here.
He stressed that India should not give up that position “lightly” as “it will cost us a great deal”.
He added India's position will be put before the Supreme Court when asked.
He was replying to query on the Supreme Court notice to the Centre in the case.
In May 1999, Captain Kalia had gone out for patrol duty in Kaksar area of Kargil along with five other soldiers—Sepoys Arjunram Baswana, Mula Ram Bidiasar, Naresh Singh Sinsinwar, Bhanwar Lal Bagaria and Bhika Ram Mudh.
They were caught by the Pakistan Army, which kept them in captivity for over 22 days and subjected to brutal torture as evident from their bodies handed over by the Pakistan Army on June 9, 1999.
N K Kalia, father of Saurabh, moved the SC seeking directions for the Centre to raise the issue in ICJ.
