Appealing Indian citizens “to seek answers from country’s leadership, ultra nationalist news channels and warmongers”, a lawmaker from Jammu and Kashmir says “why doesn’t New Delhi answer if Pakistani rangers facilitated entry of militants to Kashmir, what was Indian Army monitoring at the Line of Control?”
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Advocating that talks are not the solution to the current crisis in Kashmir, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday condemned the terror attack in Uri and said it is high time that India initiates a strong retaliatory action against Pakistan.
U.S. ambassador to India Rich Verma on Sunday condemned the terror attack in Kashmir’s Uri in which 17 Indian soliders were martyred. “I assure the nation that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished”, Modi tweeted.
“There are definite & conclusive indications that perpetrators of Uri attack were highly trained, heavily armed and specially equipped, : he added”. It wasn’t immediately clear if the four dead rebels were the only attackers.
The minister was briefed on various implications of the attack. Islamabad denies the claims. “My heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyred soldiers”, the HM said in a condolence message on Twitter.
He said 14 of the 17 deaths occurred due to a fire after militants hurled grenades at temporary structures.
Militants likely infiltrated from Pakistan into India during the night, said S. P. Vaid, a senior police officer in Kashmir.
“They were all foreigners and belonged to the Jaish-e-Mohammed”, Gen Ranbir Singh said.
Relations between India and Pakistan have been on edge since the New-Year attack on the Pathankot air force base in Punjab, near the border with Pakistan, that killed seven uniformed men.
Rock-throwing protesters have clashed with troops firing live ammunition and shotgun pellets, and more than 80 people have been killed in the violence.
The raid comes amid heightened tension in India’s only Muslim-majority region, which has faced more than two months of protests following the July 8 killing of a popular separatist commander.
The Indian government accuses Pakistan of stoking the unrest in the region.
“Today morning, a group of heavily armed militants targeted the rear administrative base of a unit at Uri”. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.
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Pakistan is preparing to “forcefully” highlight the situation in IHK at the UNGA, whereas India intends to counter Pakistan’s stance by raising the Balochistan issue, arguing that the Baloch are also seeking independence from Pakistan and deserve worldwide support. The world may be less receptive to cries of human rights violations in Kashmir than it was in the 1990s but Pakistan is counting on bellicose responses by the Bharatiya Janata Party and RSS reopening the “nuclear flashpoint” playbook.
