Indian Army conducts surgical strikes on terror camps in PoK

PRIMORYE TERRITORY, RUSSIA - SEPTEMBER 23, 2016: Indian Army soldiers react at the opening ceremony of a joint Russian-Indian military exercise, Indra 2016, at Sergeyevsky Training Ground. Yuri Smityuk/TASS (Photo by Yuri SmityukTASS via Getty Images)
Photo: Getty Images

“India conducted surgical strikes last night (Wednesday) on terror launch pads across the Line of Control to safeguard our nation,” the Defence Ministry confirmed on Thursday.

“Significant casualties have been caused to terrorists and those trying to shield them. We don’t have a plan to further conduct such strikes. India has spoken to Pakistan,” DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh said addressing a press conference jointly called by the ministries of external affairs and defence in Delhi.

“There were launch pads across the LoC where terrorists were present waiting to infiltrate the nation and attack areas in Kashmir and metros across the country,” the DGMO said.

Meanwhile, the Indian stock markets tanked by over 560 points. Currently, the Sensex is down by over 416 points at 27, 876 points.

Here are the highlights of the DGMO’s speech:

  • Indian army conducted surgical strikes on terror launchpads last night in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir

  • Ops aimed at neutralising terrorists have since ceased

  • Continuing and increasing infiltration reflected by Poonch and Uri attacks, we have foiled 20 attacks

  • No let up in infiltration from Pakistan despite Indian warnings

Pakistan rejects surgical strikes claim

A red-faced Pakistan on Thursday denied that India had conducted what it called “surgical strikes” along the Line of Control (LoC) between the two countries, and said there had instead been cross-border firing, in which two of its own soldiers had been killed and several injured.

Comparisons to the attack were already being drawn with the one carried out by the United States in Abbottabad in Pakistan, which had led to the killing of Osama bin Laden, then the most-wanted terrorist on the face of earth.

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Thursday: “Our two soldiers died and nine were injured” in the attack. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said: “I strongly condemn the unprovoked and naked aggression of the Indian forces resulting in the martyrdom of two Pakistani soldiers along the LoC.” He added: “We condemn this attack. Our desire for peace should not be interpreted as our weakness. We are ready for the safety and defence of our country.”

He was responding to Indian Army’s Director General Military Operations (DGMO) Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh saying that the army had carried out surgical strikes along the LoC on terrorist camps. “The motive of the strikes was to hit back at terrorists who have been repeatedly infiltrating the Indian territory and causing harm to the citizens of this country,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), which works as a news outlet for the Pakistani military, said the strikes had been carried out in the Bhimber, Hotspring, Kel and Lipa sectors on the Pakistani side of the LoC. This was in line with information from army sources that five to seven terror launch pads were destroyed by the Indian Army Special Forces who were para-dropped near the spot.

The ISPR also said: “This was no surgical strike by India. Instead, there had been cross-border fire initiated by India. The notion of a surgical strike linked to alleged terrorists bases is an illusion deliberately generated by India to create false effects.” It added: “Pakistan has made it clear that if there is a surgical strike on Pakistani soil, it will be strongly responded [to].”

The Pakistani media quoted the country’s air force as also saying that this was not a surgical strike. That is what any defence force would say if such strikes were carried out on its soil without it having an inkling.

Two Pakistani army men killed at the LoC, says The Dawn

Minutes after the DGMO confirmed that India had carried surgical strikes across the LoC in PoK, Pakistani newspaper The Dawn reported that two of Pakistani army men had died when troops exchanged fire over the Line of Control.

The exchange of fire began at 2:30 am, Inter-Services Public Relations said, and continued till 8:00 am.

“Pakistani troops befittingly responded to Indian unprovoked firing on the LoC in Bhimber, Hotspring Kel and Lipa sectors,” the statement said.

PM puts off meet on MFN status to Pak

Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting on situation on the LoC. The meeting that was to be called by the PM to review the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan has been postponed till next week.

Pakistani troops on Thursday violated the ceasefire along the LoC in Naugam sector of Kashmir by opening indiscriminate fire towards Indian Army posts. This is the second ceasefire violation by Pakistan in as many days.