India's surgical strikes: Army on high alert along LoC in Poonch

For the first time in response to the persistent cross-border terrorism, the Indian army retaliated with surgical strikes on Thursday and destroyed seven launch pads along the Line of Control where teams of terrorists had positioned themselves.

Live Updates:

# Decision by India to derail Summit effectively contradicts Prime Minister Modi’s own call to fight against poverty in the region: Pak MOFA

# A new set of dates for holding of the 19th SAARC Summit at Islamabad will be announced soon: Pakistan MOFA

We have our family, cattle & life here. Can’t understand where to go: Poonch Local living near LoC after evacuating the region pic.twitter.com/EvubjBpyP9

— ANI (@ANI_news) September 30, 2016

# Poonch (J&K): Army on high alert along LoC after surgical strike by Indian Army

# Banbasa (Uttarakhand): High alert in Indo-Nepal border after Indian Army conducted Surgical Strike

# Army has fulfilled its promise made to the people of India by conducting surgical strikes on Pak territory, we appreciate this: BSP

Afghanistan's Ambassador to India Shaida Abdali on Surgical strike-

# Afghanistan does not make distinction between terrorist groups and is against all such organisations that pose a danger and threat to any country in the world.

# We hope that no one will allow its territory as a safe haven for terrorists to be used against neighbouring countries.

# If terrorist groups continue to exist without action, no wonder self-defence against such terrorist groups will be in the form of action that we saw.

# It was high time we take tough decisions and they may be risky but are needed to be taken to end terrorism.

# Such decisions may have a cost but the cost is worth it because we have to end this continued terrorism that affects our people, our lives every day and is taking our vision backward day by day.

# We have to fight a phenomenon that is going to inflict us in a much bigger way, the core is that we have to act. The problem that we have is that it is increasingly taking our lives so at whatever cost, we have to end it.

# Due to the increased level of violence and fighting as a result of imposed terrorism on Afghanistan, the President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani with his responsibilities as the Commander in Chief will be fully engaged, and will not be able to attend the Summit.

# We can see Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking bold decisions and emphasised that there was a need for the leaderships in the region and the governments to take bold decisions and risks in order to free ourselves (from terrorism) for good.

Rahul Gandhi on PM-

# PM Modi has my full support, the Congress party and entire nation is standing by him.

# In two-and-a-half years, this is the first the prime minister-like action by Narendra Modi.

Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif on India

# Pak does not want war with India.

# Few Pakistani news channels are playing doctored video clips showing Indian Army casualties. Same is also circulating on social media: Army Sources

Security review meeting at Home Ministry
# NSA Ajit Doval arrives at MHA for the review security meet chaired by HM Rajnath Singh after Indian army conducts surgical strike.

Also Read: Indian Army's surgical strike across LoC: Highlights, top quotes, 10 big points, reactions, all you need to know

India's preparations for any possible retaliation:

Alert on border-

Residents living in nearly 1,000 Punjab villages lying close to the Pakistan border were being moved from their homes on Thursday following orders from the centre. Four border states of Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Gujarat on high alert.

After the surgical strikes, possibility of escalation of hostilities on the International Border increases manifolds, which requires measures to safeguard the civilian population.

In Rajasthan and Gujarat, BSF patrolling has also been intensified.

Military units on alert

Army and air force units in the western sector have also been put on a high alert.

# Leave of defence personnel has been cancelled.

# Postings have been held in abeyance till further orders.

# Military units deployed in the region have been asked to remain in a state of preparedness.

#Villagers have been evacuated within 10 km range from the Indo-Pak border.

# BSF personnel has been asked to step up vigil along the border.

#Alert is continuing and special emphasis is being laid on perimeter security of air bases in Punjab.

"We have passed directions to them to move to safer places and some of them have started to move to the houses of their relatives in safer places," a Police officer said.

Army has started evacuating people living in the adjoining areas in Noushera belt of Rajouri anticipation of a possible retaliation by Pakistani troops, officials said.

Also Read: (India's surgical strike in PoK: Here's how world reacted)

India takes other nations onboard

On Thursday Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar met envoys of 22 countries, including five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and briefed them about Army's surgical strikes. In order to mount international pressure on Pakistan, India has already opted out of the Islamabad SAARC summit. After India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also decided to skip, which led to the postponement of SAARC summit.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh chaired all-party meet:

Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday briefed leaders of major political parties+ on the situation in the wake of Army's surgical strike targeting terror launch pads across the Line of Control.

Defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on high alert

HAL which maintains IAF's fighter aircraft, has also been put on high alert. HAL's brass met its staff across units — Sukhoi, MiG, Mirage, Jaguar and other helicopter platforms — for 40 minutes on Thursday to discuss the security precautions.

HAL is the fourth line of service when aircraft develop problems.

Also Read: (Watch Video: Firecrackers, colours, dance and dhol beats - This is how India celebrated Indian Army's surgical strike in PoK)

Heightened security at key installations:

The government on Thursday reviewed the security of airports, seaports, nuclear installations and other vital infrastructures guarded by the CISF.

Pak PM Nawaz Sharif summons cabinet meeting

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has summoned a meeting of the federal cabinet on Friday to discuss the situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in the aftermath of surgical strikes carried out by Indian army.

Also Read: (Surgical Strike: What does this combat doctrine mean?)

Soon the DGMO and MEA acknowledged a military strike in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The public announcement of the surgical strikes carried out by elite troops also signalled the impending deterioration of Indo-Pak ties.

In exchange of fire two of Pakistani soldiers were killed. “The operations were focused on ensuring that these terrorists do not succeed in their design to cause destruction and endanger the lives of our citizens.” The operations, he said, have since ceased and the Indian Army does not have plans for further continuation. Lt General Ranbir Singh, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO).