India takes 1st military action with surgical strikes across LoC, Pak PM calls attack ‘unprovoked’

The army carried out surgical strikes across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday night to prevent Pakistani terrorists who had ‘positioned themselves at launch pads with the aim to carry out strikes in Jammu and Kashmir and other metros,’ the Army said today.

A surgical strike is a ‘calculated maneuver to ensure you deliver maximum damage which gives a big surprise to your adversary’.

There were no Indian casualties in the strikes which took place last night in Pakistani territory. However, two Pakistani soldiers were killed in the exchange.

In keeping with the protocol, the Army said Pakistan was informed of the cross-border strike and that the action came after escalating violations of the 2003 ceasefire.

According to the Army, three ceasefire violations by Pakistan were reported along the LoC in the last 24 hours.

The army further stated that recently captured terrorists have confessed to their training and arming in Pakistan. The Global Positioning Systems recovered from them also establish their connection with the neighbouring country.

This strike is the first military action taken by India after terrorists from Pakistan crossed into the army camp in Uri, which resulted in the death of 18 soldiers. Following the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had stated that the attack will not go unpunished.

The details of the strike were announced today after PM Modi called an urgent meeting of his Cabinet Committee on Security. The meeting was attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar.

“India cannot allow terrorists to operate across the LoC (Line of Control) and strike with impunity,” Director General Military Operations Lt. Gen. Ranbir Singh told in a press briefing soon after a meeting.

“I had spoken to the Pakistan DGMO and we expect the Pakistan Army to cooperate with us to eliminate the threat of terror,” he said,” adding that the strikes were carried out based on specific and credible information.

The press conference was jointly conducted by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Defence.

Minutes after India announced that it carried out surgical strikes across the LoC, Sharif denounced what he called was an “unprovoked and naked aggression” by Indian forces. He also warned India not to take Pakistan’s peaceful intent as a sign of weakness.

Radio Pakistan quoted him as saying that the Indian operation led to the death of two Pakistani soldiers.

“Our intent for peaceful neighbourhood should not be mistaken as our weakness as our valiant forces are fully capable of defending the territorial integrity of our country,” the Prime Minister said.

He said Pakistan can “thwart any evil design made to undermine the sovereignty of Pakistan”.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by Pakistan about the attack says, “At least two Army men were killed as Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged fire over the Line of Control in “Azad Jammu and Kashmir..Pakistani troops befittingly responded to Indian unprovoked firing on the LoC in Bhimber, Hotspring Kel and Lipa sectors.”

In the wake of the Uri attack, the government has said that it will ‘diplomatically isolate’ Pakistan on the world stage and highlight the atrocities committed by the terrorists using its territories as safe havens.

In accordance with the strategy, Prime Minister also announced that he will not be travelling to Pakistan in November to attend the regional SAARC summit. After India’s backout, three other counties also backed out of the summit.

Modi was also scheduled to hold a high-level meeting on Thursday to review the Most Favoured Nation status granted to Pakistan, but that meeting has now been rescheduled for next week.

India had also summoned Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit and handed over evidence proving that the terrorists that attacked an army base in Uri come from across the Line of Control.