However, since, as articulated by the home minister, this is much more than an attack by local militants or ultras, with Pakistan’s ISI said to be involved, the prime minister should have convened a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to formulate a strategic response to this latest in a series of cross-border assaults planned by the premier intelligence agency of the neighbouring country. The death toll may rise as some of the wounded soldiers were critical. Tents and buildings were set on fire as a battle raged across the base for several hours.
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Earlier, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who in recent weeks has signalled a more muscular approach in his country’s rivalry with Pakistan, strongly condemned what he called the “cowardly terror attack”.
Modi refrained from saying who was to blame for the bloodbath but Singh did not mince words.
While discussing attack on Brigade Headquarters and solution to Kashmir Issue internationally renowned analyst Pervez Iqbal Cheema stated that India should seriously consider Pakistan’s offer for dialogue.
Indian Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Ranbir Singh spoke to his Pakistani counterpart to convey serious concerns over the fact that some of the items terrorists were carrying had Pakistani markings.
“They were all foreigners and belonged to the Jaish-e-Mohammed”, he said.
India’s army said the militants who attacked its base at Uri, south-west of Kashmir’s capital Srinagar, were using Pakistani weapons.
Police sources said the militants probably crossed the LoC, barely 4km from Uri, close to the Sukadar and Silikote villages that are located to the camp’s northeast, between the fence and the LoC.
According to military sources, the terrorists entered the camp from the rear after cutting the barbed wire fencing – without the sentries getting alerted. The heavily armed intruders hurled grenades at tents where the soldiers were sleeping and began firing indiscriminately.
The attack sent huge columns of black smoke rising into the sky.
The troops “were stationed in tents/temporary shelters which caught fire, and resulted in heavy casualties”, the Indian army said in a statement.
Chief minister Mehbooba, who has been under fire for failing to control the unrest, said the attack was a move to create a war-like situation.
Modi saluted all those martyred in Uri.
Unofficial sources said most dead soldiers were from the Bihar Regiment.
Among the deadliest militant attacks in the state in the past was the Kaluchak massacre of 2002 in Jammu, which claimed the lives of 31 people: 3 soldiers, 18 family members of soldiers, and 10 other civilians.
The attack came amid an ongoing civilian unrest in the Kashmir valley that has left almost 90 persons dead in the last two and half months.
“Reviewed situation in Kashmir following Uri attack with Army Chief and Commanders”.
Army officials said the rebels had infiltrated into the Indian side of Kashmir from the Pakistani-controlled part.
The UN is preparing to hold its annual general assembly in NY, where Kashmir is likely to come on to the agenda amid concerns that India’s tough rhetoric could herald a military escalation between the old foes.
He said Indian involvement in terror financing in Pakistan has been exposed by the Indian spy Kulbhashan Yadev arrested in Pakistan.
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The Army chief and other top Army officers briefed Parrikar on the terror attack.
