Director General of Military operation Lt Ranbir Singh earlier this week said that the four terrorists, who attacked the military base in Jammu and Kashmir’s Uri, belonged to Pakistan’s banned terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
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The attack has triggered some tough rhetoric in India. “However, we have the desired capability to respond to such blatant acts of aggression and violence as deemed appropriate by us. We must not surrender to this logic, including in the conflict between India and Pakistan”, Steinmeier noted.
Some experts have suggested that New Delhi recall its envoy from Islamabad and expel the Pakistani high commissioner. Dismissing Islamabad’s denial of involvement, Junior Defense Minister, Subhash Bhamre said India would give a fitting response.
Senior government leaders in New Delhi blame Pakistan’s military for helping launch the attack, the BBC reported Monday, and are urging retaliation.
“Armed forces of Pakistan are fully prepared to respond to entire spectrum of direct and indirect threat”, he said, expressing his satisfaction over operational preparedness of the Army.
Pakistani authorities have said there are no safe havens for terrorists in that province, it noted.
During this, Kashmir is definitely going to be one hot topic since the relations between India and Pakistan are facing severe tensions since the Pathankot air force base attack in Punjab.
However, many other Indian officials have cautioned against any knee-jerk reaction. “It has to be taken coolly and with proper planning”, Singh said.
Many agree that India’s response must be measured. But Bedi pointed out that “military options are not only restricted, I think they are virtually non-existent”.
During the bitter 2014 election campaign that brought him to office, Modi often taunted the Congress by saying that if he became prime minister Pakistan would not dare to provoke India. “It has taken place days before Pakistan is going to raise Indian repression against peaceful Kashmiris in the United Nations General Assembly session”, Zakaria said.
In a statement, Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the “criminal act” should be investigated properly and that “its organisers and perpetrators be held accountable”.
To a question that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is facing criticism for the gap between his tough rhetoric when BJP was in the opposition and his government’s action vis-a-vis Pakistan, Prasad said BJP’s policies are in tune with the national interest.
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Army jawans carry the body of Sepoy B. Ghorai who was killed in the Uri attack, in Kolkata on Monday.
