Indian Army carried out surgical strikes on seven terror launch pads across the LoC with the Army saying on Thursday its special forces inflicted "significant casualties" on terrorists preparing to infiltrate from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Defence sources said seven terror launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC) were destroyed by special forces of the Indian Army on the intervening night of September 28 and 29 in a nearly five-hour-long operation during which heliborne and ground forces were deployed.
The sources said the launch pads in PoK were in the range of 2 to 3km from the LoC and were under surveillance for over one week while Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said the strikes targeted 5-6 places across the LoC along Kupwara and Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir. Naidu said there was no casualty on the Indian side.
According to media reports, 38 terrorists and 2 Pakistani soldiers were killed in Indian Army surgical strikes. There was no Indian casualties. Those killed included terrorists, their guides and handlers.
The announcement of the sudden action by the army to prevent fresh terror attacks was made by the DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, 11 days after the strike by Pakistan-based terror outfit JeM on an Indian army camp in Uri in Kashmir over which Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the attackers will not go "unpunished" and that the sacrifice of 18 jawans will not go in vain.
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"Based on very credible and specific information which we received yesterday that some terrorist teams had positioned themselves at launch pads along the Line of Control with an aim to carry out infiltration and terrorist strikes in Jammu & Kashmir and in various other metros in our country, the Indian army conducted surgical strikes last night at these launch pads," Gen Singh told a news conference during which External affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup was also present.
Pakistan, however, dismissed as "fabrication of truth" India's claim that it has conducted a military operation across the LoC to target terrorist launching pads, terming it as a "quest" by India to create media hype by rebranding cross-border fire as surgical strike.
"There has been no surgical strike by India, instead there had been cross border fire initiated and conducted by India which is existential phenomenon," Pakistan army said in a statement in Islamabad.
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The announcement of the strikes by the Indian army was made soon after Prime Minister Modi chaired a meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security(CCS).
Prime Minister Modi informed President Pranab Mukherjee, J and K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and former Premier Mahmohan Singh among others on the surgical strikes.
Sharing details, Gen Singh said the operations were basically focused to ensure that the terrorists do not succeed in their design of infiltration and carrying out destruction and endangering the lives of citizens of our country.
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"During these counter terrorist operations, significant casualties have been caused to the terrorists and those who are trying to support them.
"The operations aimed at neutralizing the terrorists have since ceased. We do not have any plans for continuation of further operations. However the Indian armed forces are fully prepared for any contingency that may arise," he said.
The DGMO said he had spoken to the Pakistani Director General of Military Operations and explained India's concerns and also shared with him details of the operation.
"It is India's intention to maintain peace and tranquility in the region, but we can certainly not allow the terrorists to operate across the Line of Control with impunity and attack the citizens of our country.
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"In line with Pakistan's commitment made in January 2004 not to allow its soil or territory under its control for any terrorist activities against India, we expect the Pakistani army to cooperate with us with a view to erase this menace of terrorism from our region."
J&K CM concerned over escalation of situation
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has voiced grave concern over the escalation of situation along the borders and warned that confrontation could lead to a "disaster of epic proportions" for the state.
Calling for restraint and de-escalation of the "war-like situation", she said India and Pakistan must open the channels of communication realising the dangerous consequences of any escalation of ongoing confrontation along the borders.
The people of Jammu and Kashmir have the greatest stakes in peace as they have undergone enormous tragedies because of the blood-spattered violence in the state, she said while commenting on the surgical strike.
"We in J&K have suffered immensely because of the violence and know very well its dangers and consequences," Mehbooba said.
"For the people of Jammu and Kashmir, peace along the borders and within the mainland is of immense significance and I hope the political leadership of the two countries would also treat it with the same spirit," she said.
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Pak should realise its folly: Govt
Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday voiced hope that Pakistan will realise its folly and stop aiding and abetting terrorism against India.
Emphasising that the operations are a "part of the mandate" of the Indian army to "foil any attempts of infiltration" into Indian soil, Naidu said Pakistan has "not walked the talk" on the promise it made in January 2004 that it would not allow its soil to be used for terrorist activities against India.
"India has been repeatedly urging Pakistan that its territory should not be allowed for terrorist activities....
"They have not walked the talk (on the promise). On the contrary, it has been engaged in aiding, abetting and funding terrorist all these days. In the recent past, many attempts have been made to infiltrate into Indian soil," he said.
Stressing that Pakistan should realise its responsibility towards ensuring peace in the region, he said, "Hope at least now Pakistan will realise its folly and stop aiding and abetting terrorism against India."
He said the state sponsored terrorism emanating from Pakistani soil has become a threat not only to India but for the entire region as well as the world.
"We have made all meaningful possible efforts to engage with Pakistan to discuss all issues through dialogue but unfortunately Pakistan has chosen the path of encouraging terrorism," he said.
Naidu said India's "positive gestures" were only reciprocated through "further encouragement" to terrorists and also "justifying" the terrorist acts.
After the Uri terrorist attack, the minister said people of India were outraged and Prime Minister Narendra Modi reassured the nation that such condemnable acts will not be tolerated anymore and befitting measures will be taken to ensure the safety and security of the country.
"The operations by our Army yesterday night were part of their responsibility in defending the unity, safety and security of the country," he said, adding that it is proved that country is safe in the hands of Modi and Army.
He said Indians across the world are appreciating the steps taken by the Army in countering the terrorist infiltration. Naidu said India is a "peace loving" country but it takes both the countries to realise this goal and asked Pakistan to understand its responsibility.
Border villagers asked to shift
People living within 10 kms of the border with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab have been asked to shift to safer places and schools ordered to be shut till further notice in the wake of surgical strike carried out by the Indian Army across the Line of Control (LoC).
The 'Beating Retreat' ceremony at Attari-Wagah border in Amritsar in Punjab has also been closed for public today, officials said.
"We have asked border villagers living along IB and LoC to shift to safer area as a precautionery measure," Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Simrandeep Singh said.
All people living within 7 to 8 kms of India-Pak border have been asked to move to safer areas and schools in 10 kms area to be ordered to close down till further notice, he said.
"Surgical strikes an operational necessity"
Top defence experts today termed the 'surgical strikes' on terror launch pads across the Line of Control in PoK as an "operational necessity" and said those were necessitated as the "levels of tolerance" were crossed.
Former top guns of the military lauded the bravery and calibrated approach of the Indian security forces as also the government for allowing the military to carry out the task and said "a long pending debt has been paid back today".
They justified the strikes, saying the forces had entered into Indian territory occupied by Pakistan.
"I am very pleased that the government is letting the Army do what it needs to do. Let Pakistani military know that this is what we have done and we will continue to do it (if) they do not behave themselves. We need a big heart for doing this.
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"We have to congratulate the intelligence sources for providing accurate information on whereabouts of militants. We need to compliment the government for giving a free hand to the military. So, obviously, government had given a clean action chit to the military who launched a surgical strike with good dividend," former DG Infantry Lt Gen S Prasad said.
Noting that the forces adopted a "very calibrated approach" in their strikes, he said this is how the Indian government should react by leaving the military to do the job.
Former RAW chief C D Sahay said the strikes had to happen and were "inescapable", contending these should not be related to the Pathankot or Uri attacks as there has been a long history of trans-border infiltration.
He lauded India for dealing with such matters with a mature approach while maintaining calm.
"The red lines have (been) crossed. The levels of tolerance have (been) crossed and this had to happen. I would congratulate them, but I would still urge (India) not to go gung-ho about it. It was an operational necessity. It was a security necessity. It had to be done. I would urge everyone to move on from here and not escalate (tensions) further," he said.
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India carried out 'surgical strikes' on terror launch pads across the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir last night, inflicting "significant casualties" on terrorists and those harbouring them.
The announcement of the sudden action by the army was made today by DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, 11 days after a terror strike by Pakistan-based terror outfit JeM on an Indian army camp in Uri in Kashmir which left 18 soldiers dead.
After the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said the attackers will not go "unpunished" and that the sacrifice of 18 jawans will not go in vain.
With PTI inputs
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