In the ensuing gun battle that lasted several hours, all four militants were killed, officials said.
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Indian forces this year have foiled at least half a dozen attempts by militants to infiltrate from across the border, officials said.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh was holding a high-level security meeting in New Delhi, according to reports, after earlier saying he was cancelling his planned trips to Russian Federation and the United States.
“Jammu and Kashmir has always been the worst victim of India-Pakistan hostility and its people have been paying a colossal price for the same for the past over six decades”, she said.
There has been no claim of responsibility.
He said that 13 to 14 of the army men killed died because of fires in their tent and temporary shelters.
There are definite and conclusive indications that the perpetrators of Uri attack were highly trained, heavily armed and specially equipped.
All 4 terrorists who carried out major attack on rear base of an Army unit in Uri of Jammu and Kashmir belonged to Jaish e Mohammed. “India would not be cowed down by such attacks and befitting reply would be given to those involved in this cowardly act”, he said in a statement.
“We salute the sacrifices of 17 soldiers who were martyred in the operation”. “GoI has not only played foul with Pakistan in the name of dialogue but has eroded the credibility of all those including mainstream and Hurriyat leaders and militant commanders, who dared to talk to New Delhi for permanent peace”.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Army chief General Dalbir Singh immediately prepared to fly to Uri. If terrorism is the instrument of the weak and coward, restraint in the face of repeated terror attacks betrays inefficiency and incompetence.
“We recovered 4 AK 47 rifles, 4 Under Barrel Grenade Launchers and other war like stores from the 4 slain terrorists”, Singh added. Indian and Pakistani troops are in close proximity in many places along one of the world’s most heavily militarised frontiers, and exchanges of fire are not uncommon.
The incident is bound to affect the situation in Kashmir valley which is witnessing civilian protest against Indian occupation for more than two months now.
Hostility between the nuclear neighbours was already high after a summer of violent clashes in Kashmir between security forces, protesters seeking greater autonomy or independence, and militants India accuses of being sponsored by Pakistan. “Only way to handle these attacks is to hit back”, former home secretary RKSingh said.
Those following the developments in Kashmir feel it is a calculated provocation from across the border to provoke India in the run-up to United Nations General Assembly session.
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Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif walks past his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi (foreground) during the opening session of 18th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in Kathmandu November 26, 2014.
