India's surgical strike in PoK: Here's what Indian Army said in press conference

Indian Army conducted surgical strikes on terror launch pads on Wednesday night across the Line of Control (LoC) and inflicted significant casualties and heavy damages.

The announcement of the sudden action by the army to target terrorists was made by the DGMO Lt Gen Ranveer Singh at a hurriedly called news conference during which External affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup was also present.

Also Read: 38 terrorists, 2 Pak soldiers killed in Indian Army's surgical strikes in PoK, attack video captured by drone 

PRESS STATEMENT BY DGMO 

It has been a matter of serious concern that there has bee 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 2 infiltration attempts have also been foiled by the Army at or close to th Line of Control during this year.

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 fro Pakistan or Pakistan Occupied Kashmir have confessed to their training an arming in Pakistan or territory under its control. The matter had bee 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 b made available to Pakistan for investigation. 

Despite our persistent urging that Pakistan respect its January 200 commitment for not allowing its soil or territory under its control to b used for terrorism against India, there has been no let up in infiltration and terrorist actions from across the Line of Control. 

If damage was limited, this was primarily due to the efforts of our soldiers deployed i our multi-tiered counter-infiltration grid that has been effective in neutralizing infiltrating terrorists. 

The Indian Armed Forces have bee extremely vigilant in the face of this continuing threat 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 an Kashmir and in various metros in other states, the Indian Army conducte 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. 

During these counter terrorist operations significant casualties were caused to terrorists and those providing support to them. Th operations aimed at neutralizing terrorists have since ceased. 

We do no have any plans for further continuation. However, the Indian Armed Force are fully prepared for any contingency that may arise.

I have been in touch with Pakistan Army DGMO and have informed hi of our actions. It is India’s intention to maintain peace and tranquility in the region. 

But we cannot allow the terrorists to operate across th 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 o 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 terrorists from the region.