On Sunday, four gunmen attacked an army base in Uri, near the border between India and Pakistan in Indian-administered Kashmir, killing 17 people and wounding more than 30 others. Investigators also suspect more terrorists, along with the local guide, are hiding in the area, and have launched a search.
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Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry said on Monday that the Pakistani leadership and masses were fully capable of defending the nation, as tensions mounted between both nuclear armed neighbours ahead of PM Nawaz’s UN General Assembly address. Stopping attacks by militants from Pakistan might be a losing battle, but it is winning the wider diplomatic war. Top brass of the Indian military has warned against any rash military action as Pakistan has strengthened its defences.
India’s options to hit back at Pakistan appeared limited, as they carried the risk of escalation.
Meanwhile, the NIA team that reached Kashmir earlier to investigate into the terror attack at the Uri Army base headquarters and registered an FIR against the perpetrators.
“I expect US Administration and Secretary Kerry to use his good offices to help in resolving bilateral issues between Pakistan and India”, he said.
Tuesday’s exchange was the first since Sunday’s attack, which the Indian army has blamed on Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad.
“The US and the United Kingdom have seen so much double-dealing by Pakistan in Afghanistan that they are now far more sympathetic to the Indian position”, MacDonald says.
In summary, reports regarding the exercise’s purported cancellation have yet to be corroborated officially by Russia, Pakistan, or even India.
Mahmood said the participants would be carrying Kashmiri flags and would express complete solidarity with their “Kashmiri brethren” on the Indian side, adding the permission for the protest demonstration had already been sought. However, on its part, Pakistan has categorically rejected the accusations being levelled by Modi Government.
General Singh reiterated what Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), Lt. Gen. Ranbir Singh, said about some of the weapons bearing a Pakistan marking.
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Pakistan has called on the United Nations and the worldwide community to investigate atrocities it alleges have been committed by Indian security forces in Kashmir.
