India has carried out surgical strikes targeting “launchpads” for terrorists across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, said the Indian Army. The strike was carried out on Wednesday night, senior military and diplomatic sources informed the media at a hurriedly called media briefing at the Ministry of External Affairs.
“Based on very specific and credible information which we received yesterday that some terrorist teams had positioned itself along the line of control, India Army carried out surgical strikes last night at these launch pads. The operations were focused to ensure that these terrorists do not succeed in endangering lives of citizens in our country. During the counter-terrorist operations, significant casualties have been caused to the terrorists and those who were trying to support them. The operations have since ceased,” Director General of Military Operations Lt. Gen Ranbir Singh said.
He sought the support of the Pakistan Army in erasing the menace of terrorism. Pakistan has responded to the government statement saying there has been “no such strike.”
“We do not have any plans to continue. However the Indian armed forces are fully prepared to deal with any contingency which may arise. I have spoken to Pakistani DGMO and expressed our concern. It is India’s intention to maintain peace and tranquillity in the region but we cannot certainly allow terrorists to operate across the Line of Control with impunity and attack our citizens,” said the DGMO.
The attack was carried out following the September 18 terror strike in Uri that claimed the lives of 18 Indian soldiers.
The DGMO pointed out that during the investigation of the terror attack, the proof of the involvement of Pakistani elements was clearly discovered.
India tried to solve the situation from the Uri attack at the diplomatic level but did not receive an adequate response, he said. Earlier on Thursday morning, Army officials briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the srcurity situation at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security. A meeting the Prime Minister due to thold on reviewing the MFN status to Pakistan was postponed to next week, the Prime Minister’s Office said.
In a statement on its website, the DG-ISPR of the Pakistani army said that there had been a major exchange of fire overnight, in which two Pakistani rangers were killed. “Pakistani troops befittingly responded to Indian unprovoked firing in Bhimber, Hotspring, Kel and Lipa sectors which started at 0230 and continued till 0800” the Pakistani military spokesperson claimed.