Uri attacks: PM Narendra Modi chairs crucial Cabinet meet. Will India respond?

A crucial meeting of Cabinet ministers chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the wake of terror attacks in Uri that left 18 Indian Army jawans martyred and 19 other soldiers injured is currently underway. The meeting is attended by top ministers including Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. The meeting may discuss possible options on how India can respond to Uri attacks.

Here are the live updates:

Delhi: Union Cabinet meeting ends. HM Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, MoS PMO Jitendra Singh leave PMO. pic.twitter.com/LEj2PBqpou

— ANI (@ANI_news) September 21, 2016

#Delhi: Union Cabinet meeting at the PMO ends

#Cabinet Committee on Security meeting underway, HM Rajnath Singh, FM Arun Jaitley, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar arrive for meet

Delhi: Cabinet Committee on Security meeting underway, HM Rajnath Singh, FM Arun Jaitley, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar arrive for meet pic.twitter.com/Ve53ZWoAki

— ANI (@ANI_news) September 21, 2016

India had reacted strongly to the deadliest attack on the Army in Jammu and Kashmir in a quarter-century-old insurgency that sparked an outrage with the Prime Minister strongly condemning it.

“We strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack in Uri. I assure the nation that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished,” Modi had said.

The assertion by PM Modi has triggered speculation about the options that India could exercise in the current situation. The options that are being speculated include a swift, surgical strike on terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). However, experts caution it could have consequences. One of the speculated options also include targeting artillery and heavy-mortar fire on Pakistan army posts and bunkers.

Home Minister Rajnath had pointed a finger directly at Pakistan, saying it is a “terrorist state” and should be isolated. while BJP leader Ram Madhav said days of strategic restraint are over and suggested that “for one tooth, the complete jaw” should be the policy after the attack.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Monday chaired a high-level meeting attended by top ministers and other officials over the deadly terror attack in Uri.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag besides other senior officials attended the meeting.

Heavily armed militants suspected to be from Pakistan-based JeM on Sunday stormed an army base in Uri in Kashmir, killing 17 jawans.