The attack took place at garrison Uri town in frontier Baramulla district, about 109 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
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An army statement says that a large number of troops had been stationed here after their tour of duty and heavy casualties have resulted from their shelters catching fires.
Reuters television footage showed helicopters flying in to evacuate the injured as an operation continued to secure the area.
Pakistan rejected allegations that it was involved.
Since the barracks were empty, militants took defensive position inside the barracks on the second floor, which has 16 rooms. “The rattle of gunshots lasted for over four hours”.
He said he was “deeply distressed” and prayed “for the speedy recovery of the injured”.
In Washington, the State Department said, “The United States strongly condemns the terrorist attack”. “Their service to the nation will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyred soldiers”, the HM said in a condolence message on Twitter.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh pointed a finger directly at Pakistan, saying it is a “terrorist state” and should be isolated while BJP leader Ram Madhav said days of strategic restraint are over and suggested that “for one tooth, the complete jaw” should be the policy after the attack.
Appealing masses in India to seek answers from Indian leadership, ultra nationalist news channels, war and hatemongers to answer that how long will mothers in India and Jammu & Kashmir continue to receive coffins of their beloved ones, AIP President and MLA Langate Er Rashid Sunday reiterated that every incident is like a wake-up call to resolve dispute of J&K as per United Nations resolutions.
Rajnath Singh, the Indian home minister, cancelled an overseas trip and held an emergency meeting on Sunday afternoon with top security officials.
Most of the fatalities happened in a tent that caught fire, Singh, the Indian army’s director general of military operations, told the briefing in New Delhi.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said the “attack was aimed at triggering fresh violence in Kashmir and creating a war-like situation in the region”. This attack is however, the deadliest in recent years.
In 2014, a similar attack on the military fortification at village Mohra in Uri killed at least eight Indian troopers including their officer and three policemen. After a prolonged gunfight and explosions, 17 soldiers were killed while 19 personnel were injured.
India has blamed Pakistan-based militant groups for that and a string of other attacks – including one on Mumbai in 2008 that killed 166 people. The angry rock-throwing demonstrations erupted after Indian security forces killed a popular militant in July.
It comes as violent protests against Indian rule in the disputed region continue, with a strict curfew imposed.
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Terrorists attacked the army camp near Uri early Sunday morning, leading to the death of 17 soldiers.
