“The US and Pakistani relationship has been a troubled one,” Paul said in a statement.

“Though the government of Pakistan has been considered America’s ally in the fight on terrorism, Pakistan’s behaviour would suggest otherwise. While we give them billions of dollars in aid, we are simultaneously aware of their intelligence and military apparatus assisting the Afghan Taliban.”

He went on to call Pakistan “duplicitous”, a word frequently used by US lawmakers for the country, and brought up its “support of terrorism and deplorable human rights record”.

The Obama administration announced its intention to sell the new F-16 jets to Pakistan around Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ’s visit to the US last October.

The US department of defence notified Congress on February 12, as is required for a deal of this size, of the “possible sale” that is estimated to cost $699.04 million.

Lawmakers have 30 days to block the move.

India has expressed “displeasure” over the proposed sale the day after, and said it disagrees with the Obama administration’s “rationale that such arms transfers help to combat terrorism”.

HOW THEY REACTED

The registration of the FIR by Islamabad came after Doval spoke to his Pakistani counterpart Naseer Khan Janjua several times over phone in this connection after the January 2 attack, which led to the death of eight security personnel.

Immediately after it, India provided Pakistan details of phone numbers that were called by the attackers after entering the air base. India told Pakistan that a few numbers called by the attackers were of known operatives of terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad, seeking action against them.

“The information on Pathankot attack was exchanged between the two countries at the level of NSAs. Both the NSAs discussed the possibility of a Pakistani probe team visiting India for exchange of information on the attack,” said another senior home ministry official.

Sources say though the registration of FIR provides a legal framework for the visit of Pakistani investigators to India, Islamabad could have avoided mentioning Doval’s name in the FIRs by registering it on the basis of source information.

Both ministries of external affairs and home declined to comment on the issue.

After hours of waiting, we spotted several trucks of the Haryana police and the army. An hour later, several ambulances joined them. Danger loomed large when several youths riding motorcycles started ‘patrolling’ the area, shouting “ib gandase chalenge” (now, axes would be used). Some of them slapped a youth who tried to make a video on his mobile phone.

Soon, out of the blue, we heard gunshots and saw dark smoke billowing above the village skyline. Bike-borne youths shouted at motorists, telling them to go back. We saw a few vehicles returning at high speed with their window panes shattered. The sight compelled us and others to make a quick retreat.

Many ran terrorised, huffing and puffing. One Virender Singh begged for a lift from the HT team (and we obliged) to rush to his vehicle parked about 2 km away.

The U-turn and the subsequent drive took us to Gannaur, where I saw people with fear in their eyes. Amid horrifying tension, many had still put on a brave face, but some could only wonder for how long this anarchy would continue.

We took the first available hotel, only to spend a tense night remembering the harrowing time people were facing.

Next morning, on learning that NH-1 had finally been cleared, we moved towards Sonepat. On the “highway of horror”, we saw dozens of charred vehicles and property.

On our way back on Tuesday evening, we spotted some motorists, but they were far less compared to the usually unending stream of vehicles. As the day progressed and the highway traffic increased, its chaos and cacophony brought a sad smile on my face.

The Gurj division under Rising Star Corps organised the function with the usual military élan and splendour. Presiding over it, Western Army commander lieutenant general KJ Singh, said the winners had battled insurgents in the most inhospitable terrains of Jammu and Kashmir and the North East, in keeping with the best traditions of the army.

The Sena Medal for gallantry was given away to major Ravindra Kokane, captain Suveer Rathore, captain Tarun Verma, havildar Deepak Tomar, lance naik Chenabasappa Pujar, naik Jagsir Singh (posthumous), naik Kulwinder Singh (posthumous), lance naik Jagga Singh (posthumous), and gunner Manpreet Singh (posthumous). The next of their kin of the four posthumous awardees received the medals on behalf of the gallant soldiers.

Three Sena Medals for distinguished service and two Vishisht Seva Medals were also given away. Besides, the Wester n Army commander handed out 19 unit citations for meritorious and outstanding performance.

Nearly 1,000 soldiers have died guarding Siachen since the Army took control of the glacier in April 1984, almost twice the number of lives lost in the Kargil war. “Our deployment has stabilised with the casualty rates being the lowest since we took control of the heights. Top-notch equipment, rigorous monitoring of training, fine leadership and adherence to strict codes and drills have helped save lives,” said Singh.

On the February 3 tragedy, Singh said, “We map areas meticulously and maintain year-wise records of danger zones to keep casualties low. Soldiers know at what precise time, in which month, there was an avalanche in their area, say, 10 years ago. But given the geography, such incidents are unavoidable,” Singh explained.

One of the soldiers, Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad, miraculously survived being trapped under 35 feet of snow for six days but died in an army hospital on February 11.

Singh said, “They were buried too deep and the ice had become harder than concrete. It couldn’t have been blown up using explosives. We flew in electric ice cutters and radars that can detect heat signatures at a depth of 20 metres. My instructions were clear that the rescue operations would continue till the time we found survivors or the bodies.” Soldiers in Siachen have faced hardships because of the government’s repeated failures to provide them with special clothing and equipment to endure the punishing heights, but Singh said the deficiencies had been made up entirely.

The ex-commanding officer says it was no surprise that he was chosen for one of the toughest posts.

Remembering subed ar Nagesh, Col Devdatt says he first met him when he posted in Ghatak platoon on being commissioned as an officer. Nagesh was the youngest of the group and but showed a lot of endurance as he could run 20km with speed, carrying weight and still remain fit. “He was my friend, brother and a colleague, guiding me in learning the lessons of leadership, brotherhood and camaraderie,” writes the Colonel.

Nagesh was involved in an operation with terrorists in Doda. The unit had lost one officer and two soldiers but it managed to kill five terrorists and Nagesh played a key role in the operation. “Without fearing for his life, he chased the fleeing terrorists and killed one in close combat, which was something unheard of in Doda,” writes Col Devdatt.