Condemning the Uri terror attack, in which 17 soldiers were killed, Modi had yesterday said those behind the “despicable” act won’t go unpunished. Afterward, military helicopters hovered over the base as the army conducted what it described as mopping up operations.
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The Home Minister also called an emergency meeting to review the situation arising out of the attack on the Brigade Headquarters in Uri.
Army officials said the rebels had infiltrated into the Indian side of Kashmir from the Pakistani-controlled part.
The army’s director-general of military operations Ranbir Singh has blamed Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad, which was implicated in an audacious attack on an Indian air force base in the northern state of Punjab in January that left seven soldiers dead. India has strongly criticised Pakistan for the attacks and is considering serious action against the incessant assaults on the Indian soldiers along the border.
Some security establishment officials firmly believe that a political decision needs to be taken to send a clear message to Pakistan that “enough is enough”.
The terrorists had “some items which had Pakistani markings on”, he said.
Refuting unfounded and premature Indian allegations, Pakistani DGMO Major General Sahir Shamshad Mirza asked his Indian counterpart to share any actionable intelligence.
However, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Most people in the Indian-controlled portion favor independence or a merger with Pakistan.
Twelve soldiers were killed by fires and the others died on Sunday in gun battles, the Hindustan Times reports, citing army sources.
Top level sources in the Home Ministry said that further strategies to combat terrorism will also be featuring in the discussion. Islamabad has previously denied sponsoring terrorism.
“It is a matter of great sadness, we condemn this strongly”. MoS Home, Kiren Rijiju said, “We must not pay heed to Pak’s reactions”.
In July, the situation in the region grew increasingly tense as more than 60 Kashmiris, protesting the death of a commander of local separatist group Hizbul Mujahideen, banned in India, were killed in clashes with Indian forces. However, several suspected militants have been killed along the de facto border.
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The Indian military said the four gunmen who carried out the attack were “foreigners”.
