Nawaz Sharif, the Pakistan prime minister, has pledged to “emphatically highlight” violence in Kashmir in a speech during this week’s United Nations general assembly meeting.
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The CPI (M) Central Committee, now in session here, asked Pakistan to stop aiding and abetting extremist forces, while strongly condemning the attack.
“Our men are ready to give a befitting response”, Singh said in response to a reporter’s question.
Meanwhile, as the Indian political class – from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Home Minister Rajnath singh and even Congress president Sonia Gandhi – blamed Pakistan in unison for the Uri attack, the neighbouring country said India had blamed it without even conducting an investigation.
At the time of the attack, the army base in the heavily forested garrison town of Uri had a large number of troops because soldiers were handing over duties to a new battalion, the Indian army said in a statement.
At least 78 civilians have been killed and thousands injured in street clashes with Indian security forces, who have been criticised by human rights groups for using excessive force. If terrorism is the instrument of the weak and coward, restraint in the face of repeated terror attacks betrays inefficiency and incompetence.
Pakistan rejected allegations that it was involved.
Meanwhile, a ministry official told Reuters that Indian forces in and around the Uri sector have been activated and ordered to step up security as well as launch combing operations.
There can be no doubt that Pakistan has to be called to account for, at the very least, providing sanctuary and more to individuals who openly declare their intention of turning Jammu and Kashmir into a graveyard for Indian soldiers. Both claim the territory in full and have fought two of their three wars over the region.
Unofficial sources said most of the dead soldiers were from the Bihar Regiment.
Expressing similar sentiments, another CPI (M) leader Mohammed Salim condemned the attacks and called for a proactive approach to tackle such situations in future.
The Indian army evacuated the soldiers by helicopter, after an hours-long gunfight. Smoke rose from the compound, set in mountainous terrain.
The Home Minister was scheduled to leave for Russian Federation tonight for a four-day bilateral visit and later to the US on September 26 for a six-day tour to attend the Indo-US Homeland Security Dialogue.
He said he has spoken to Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on the situation in the wake of the terror attack. “My thoughts are with the bereaved families”, the Prime Minister said in a series of tweets. “I am deeply disappointed with Pakistan’s continued and direct support to terrorism and terrorist groups”, he tweeted.
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The huge wave of protests against Indian rule that were prompted by the killing of a popular young militant on 8 July have been overwhelmingly by people from Indian-controlled areas of Kashmir. “India will not be cowed down by such attacks”.
