Narendra Modi has vowed to punish those behind the attack in which gunmen hurling grenades stormed a base, killing 17 soldiers in the worst such attack in over a decade.
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India’s DGMO Lt General Ranbir Singh has said that all the four killed terrorists were foreigners and had carried with them items which had Pakistani markings and that initial reports indicated that they belonged to Pakistan-based Jaish-E-Mohammed terrorist group.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) will undertake a comprehensive probe into the terror attack in Kashmir that has left 18 soldiers dead and for which India has blamed Pakistan.
The UN is preparing to hold its annual general assembly in NY, where Kashmir is likely to be on the agenda. “For one tooth, the whole jaw”, he wrote on Twitter. “I assure the nation that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished”, Modi had said. “Afghanistan has been facing similar attacks on our security forces and our innocent people and hope the world community, countries of this region will join hands with India and Afghanistan to fight terrorism more appropriately”, he told ANI. A sweeping military crackdown and near-constant curfew have been in effect since the protests began. Such ammunition, experts believe, points to the backing the terrorists received from the Pakistan Army.
“Here, we have a hostile Pakistani establishment”.
India blames the outlawed group, which is based in Pakistan, for a series of attacks in the Himalayan region and Indian cities, including the attack on India’s Parliament in 2001 that brought nuclear rivals India and Pakistan to the brink of war. The two countries have held numerous rounds of talks over the years, but never have reached agreement on Kashmir.
“The Indian Army has displayed considerable restraint while handling the terrorist situation both along the Line of Control and in hinterland”.
All the four militants were killed after a three-hour gun battle.
Bilateral talks. India can engage in talks with the civilian leadership in Pakistan.
But analysts cautioned Monday that electoral bombast is not supposed to define state policy. The evidence would be presented to the U.N. General Assembly, convening this week in NY.
Sources said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will strongly emphasise on Pakistan’s involvement in the attack during her UNGA speech on September 26.
That did not placate New Delhi.
But whatever measures India decides on, New Delhi will have to consider their implications.
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Following the Pathankot attack earlier this year, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had also said the same.
