Pakistan warns after denial as India launches surgical strike across LoC, destroys several terrorist camps

New Delhi: Amid mass anger in India over the Uri attack in Kashmir, India on late Wednesday night carried out surgical strikes across the LoC, targeting terrorist launch pads working from within the neighbouring country, the army said.

The strikes were launched by the Indian Army at the KG sector of Poonch district. Two Pakistani soldiers were also reportedly killed. Pakistan denied that there were surgical attacks calling India’s claims as “fabrication of truth” but Pak PM Nawak Sharif warned India against any aggression.

Indian Army called a press conference to share the details of the surgical attack.

“Based on receiving specific and credible inputs that some terrorist teams had positioned themselves at launch pads along Line of Control to carryout infiltration and conduct terrorist strikes inside Jammu and Kashmir and in various metros in other states, the Indian Army conducted surgical strikes at several of these launch pads to pre-empt infiltration by terrorists. The operations were focussed on ensuring that these terrorists do not succeed in their design to cause destruction and endanger the lives of our citizens,” Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt General Ranbir Singh told journalists in New Delhi  issuing a statement.

“During these counter terrorist operations significant casualties were caused to terrorists and those providing support to them. The operations aimed at neutralizing terrorists have since ceased. We do not have any plans for further continuation. However, the Indian Armed Forces are fully prepared for any contingency that may arise.

“I have been in touch with Pakistan Army DGMO and have informed him of our actions,” he said.

“It is India’s intention to maintain peace and tranquillity in the region. But we cannot allow the terrorists to operate across the Line of Control with impunity and attack citizens of our country at will. In line with Pakistan’s commitment in January 2004 not to allow its soil or territory under its control to be used for attacks against India, we expect the Pakistani army to cooperate with us to erase the menace of terrorism from the region,” he said.

Pakistan army confirmed that two of its soldiers were killed in an exchange of fire between Indian and Pakistani troops across the Line of Control (LoC) in Bhimber, Hotspring Kel and Lipa Sectors in the Kashmir Valley.

Pakistan Army public relations arm ISPR said: “There have been no surgical strike by India, instead there had been cross-border fire initiated and conducted by India which is existential phenomenon. The notion of surgical strikes linked to alleged terrorist bases is an illusion being deliberately generated by India to create false effects.”

“This quest by Indian establishment to create media hype by re-branding cross-border fire as surgical strike is a fabrication of truth. Pakistan has made it clear that if there is a surgical strike on Pakistani soil, same will be strongly responded,” the ISPR said.

According to reports, the President, Vice President, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Jammu and Kashmir Government and its Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti have been informed about the surgical strikes conducted by the Indian Army.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday warned India and said: “Our intent for peaceful neighbourhood should not be mistaken as our weakness as our valiant forces are fully capable of defending the territorial integrity of our country.”

He said Pakistan can “thwart any evil design made to undermine the sovereignty of Pakistan”.

India said it has been a matter of serious concern that there has been continuing and increasing infiltration by terrorists across Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

“This is reflected, amongst others, in the terrorist attacks on 11 and 18 September 16 in Punch and Uri respectively. Almost 20 infiltration attempts have also been foiled by the Army at or close to the Line of Control during this year,” India said in the statement

“During these terrorist attacks and infiltration attempts, we have recovered various stores including GPS and items that clearly indicate their origins in Pakistan. Furthermore, captured terrorists hailing from Pakistan or Pakistan Occupied Kashmir have confessed to their training and arming in Pakistan or territory under its control.

“The matter had been taken up at highest diplomatic levels and through military channels. India has also offered consular access to these apprehended terrorists for Pakistan to verify their confessions. Furthermore, we had proposed that fingerprints and DNA samples of terrorists killed in Punch and Uri could be made available to Pakistan for investigation.”

Meanwhile, villages in Punjab, lying within 10 km of the international border with Pakistan are being evacuated as a precautionary measure.

India Blooms News Service