Condemning the Uri terror attack, in which 17 soldiers were killed, Modi had yesterday said those behind the “despicable” act won’t go unpunished. More than 70 people have since died in clashes between stone-pelting youths and Indian security forces, and hundreds more have been blinded or injured by military pellet guns.
Advertisement
An attack on another Indian base near the border with Pakistan in January also drew a measured response, but the casualty toll was lower than in Sunday’s raid.
In addition, according to reports, India will also push for other countries such as the U.S. and France to designate Pakistan in similar terms.
Indian army soldiers carry the coffins of colleagues during a wreath laying ceremony for soldiers killed in a gunbattle at the army headquarters in Srinagar on September 19, 2016.
Accoridng to sources, Modi wants clear evidence of Pakistan’s complicity to be presented to all major global fora, including the upcoming UN General Assembly. “We confirm our continued support for the Indian governments counter-terrorism efforts”.
Pakistan denied any role in Sunday’s attack, with the Foreign Ministry saying in a statement that it “has noted with serious concern the recent spate of vitriolic and unsubstantiated statements emanating from Indian civil and military leadership”. Although this tactic has been mastered by Pakistan to bleed India with thousand cuts in Kashmir, New Delhi being responsible of the two neighbours could not replicate it. Both claim the Himalayan territory in full.
Senior Indian politicians, including Home Minister Rajnath Singh who called Pakistan “a terrorist state”, were quick to warn of action against Islamabad, putting pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take a tough line.
“If India retaliates across LOC it gets internationalized if not exposes GOI’s [Government of India] hollow rhetoric”, former diplomat KC Singh tweeted.
The United States meanwhile condemned the attacks. However, such a brazen move would compel others in South Asia to express anguish against India, particularly Pakistan’s time-trusted ally China.
Some experts have suggested that New Delhi recall its envoy from Islamabad and expel the Pakistani high commissioner.
But whatever measures India decides on, New Delhi will have to consider their implications.
Advertisement
The assertion by Modi triggered considerable speculation about the options that India could exercise in the current situation.
