Pakistan’s nuclear-armed neighbour India said Thursday it conducted military strikes along its de facto border with the country in Kashmir to thwart attacks on some of its biggest cities, provoking a furious reaction from Pakistan.
With a growing backlash in India over a deadly assault on one of its army bases in Kashmir earlier this month, a senior officer said the military had carried out “surgical strikes” along the unofficial border that divides the disputed territory Wednesday night.
Pakistan’s military said two of its soldiers had been killed in what it called “cross-border fire” while Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned what he called India’s “naked aggression”.
‘Naked aggression’
The Pakistani military categorically rejected the idea that the strikes had been “surgical”.
“There has been no surgical strike by India, instead there had been cross-border fire initiated and conducted by India,” it said in a statement.
“As per rules of engagement, same was strongly and befittingly responded by Pakistani troops.
“The notion of surgical strike linked to alleged terrorists’ bases is an illusion being deliberately generated by Indian to create false effects.
“This quest by Indian establishment to create media hype by rebranding cross-border fire as the surgical strike is a fabrication of the truth.”
In a statement from his office, Sharif “strongly condemned the unprovoked and naked aggression of Indian forces”.
How the news broke
News of the strikes was announced at a press conference by Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh, India’s director-general of military operations.
“Some terrorist teams had positioned themselves at launch pads along the Line of Control,” Singh said, describing the intelligence information as “very specific and credible”.
“The Indian army conducted surgical strikes last night at these launchpads. Significant casualties have been caused by these terrorists and those who are trying to support them.
“The operations aimed at neutralising the terrorists have since ceased,” he told a press conference in the Indian capital New Delhi.
Singh said the decision to launch the strikes had been taken after the military determined the launchpads had been set up with “an aim to carry out infiltration and terrorist strikes in Jammu and Kashmir and various other metros in our country.”
“The operations were basically focused on ensuring that these terrorists do not succeed in their design of infiltration and carrying out destruction and endangering the lives of citizens of our country.”
He did not say whether the strikes had been carried out by the Indian air force or by ground troops.
Setting the tone
The strikes come after the Indian government accused Pakistan-based militants of launching a deadly assault on an army base in Kashmir earlier this month that killed 18 soldiers.
India has also been on a diplomatic drive to isolate its arch rival and fellow nuclear power since the raid on September 18, the worst such attack in more than a decade.
On Tuesday, it said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in Islamabad in November, in a major snub to its neighbour.
Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since gaining independence from Britain seven decades ago.
India has said the attack on the Uri army base in the northern part of Kashmir was carried out by a Pakistan-based group called Jaish-e Mohammed.
Tensions had already been high in the region since the Indian army killed a leading Kashmiri separatist Burhan Wani in a gunfight in early July, sparking a series of protests that have been staged in defiance of curfew orders.
More than 80 people have been killed in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir since July, many of them shot dead by the Indian army at the protests.
Pakistan has nothing to lose. While India has A LOT to lose – this war will be on Pakistan’s favor. India’s economy and foreign investors know very well, when the going gets tough, you take out all your dough and invest somewhere a lot more stable. Indian fools.
Say goodbye to your emerging economy status, India – you’ve just made your own collapse imminent.
@ ANON- SA,, i can feel your pain on terrorist's death. Keeping counting bodies of your terrorist brothers.
@AARYAN time to taste your own medicine for pakis
HELLO ARYAN,
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INDIANS AND PAKISTANIS IS INDIANS ARE "ROTTU QUOM". Its meaning is crying babies.
Cannot you see how kashmiries are celebrating their independence with Pakistan not India. Its a big lesson rottu
and Pakistanis are called beggars .. Pakistani economy is nothing more than a begging bowl that USA puts alms into..
Kashmir is INTEGRAL PART OF INDIA..When the whole country celebrates its Independence Day on Aug 15, all states including Kashmir celebrates it with gusto. However, i believe Balochistan is fighting for independence from Pakistan. Surely, the day is not far off when Baloch will celebrate its independence.
Pakistanis cant be taught anything..Illiterates will always be illiterates…
Pakis are bhikaris…beggars dont cry
Lol.. no one need emerging economy.. when it come to destroy paki porks… You had it 4 times… lets have it one more time…
Oh You have internet in Pakistan?
Pakistan has already LOST everything. It is scrapping at the bottom of the barrel.. and continues to dig a grave for itself. Pakistan is already at war with ITSELF!
Of course Donkeys has never sense of loosing.
Pakistan people don’t you understand that you are paying for it? Don’t you see the increase in tax ? Fools
hahahaha……. India has been the top economy from centuries FYI! India has seen many many such events! and has emerged Brighter!!
any way looks like you guys will be history!! celebrate as much as possible in next couple of years!! new nations will emerge Baloch, Sind and just like bangladesh! and you will also come to independece cup of Sind/Baloch cricket nations being played in baloch!!! 😉
Pakistan is playing for its sin now
uhhh.. what you are thinking .. Pakistan have nuclear power .. and Support of China … Within One day India will Finsihed ..
Be sensible. No one will gain with war. neither India nor Pakistan. it is better for both Countries to develop their economies rather than indulge in this kind of short sighted talk.
Nafisa…angreji likhna to seekh le …
India does not have nuclear power?? Pak army has habit of losing wars…dont worry about the result.
Is it .. ??????????
@Anon-SA , You don know pak.. peolple are always supporting to terror group .. and creating cold war between so many countries,,due to China support ..
i will support to @Suman regarding Baloch and bangladesh..
No matter what you say, it’s quite obvious, the money being invested in India is now headed for withdrawal. Who would even invest knowing very well that other people are also looking for a fast withdrawal. Cry as much as you want, you buffoon, it’s quite obvious, foreign investors don’t really care, they’re more worried about how fast they can withdraw.
Pakistan should also Support Khalistan
Yes they should support to Khalistan.. as soon they met single Khalistani supporter… lol…
yes .. well said.. and guess what Khalistan should pick their capital as —— La.wh0re
yes Khalistan is the solution of Indo-Pak issues
Lahore, Ranjit Singh's capital should be the capital of Khalsian.
BREAKING NEWS …Khalistan renamed their capital city to La.Wh0re !!!!
We will make sure to provide liberation and freedom to Khalistan. Pakistan supports full heartedly a new and strong Khalistan, a completely free and independent nation for proud Sikh people!
But to do that, we first need to cripple India. It’s a confusing nation, with a number of people, speaking multiple languages and multiple ethnic groups. Conflicts are prominent in India, therefore, Khalistan must be made an independent free nation.
A Sikh announced the strike in the press conference…
Before the dream of Khalistan may be fulfilled by Pakis, there may not be 'Pakistan' as we know it today like what happened in 1971, so hold your horses and take care of your internal problems, you have India to the east and Afghanistan and Iran on the other side looking for an opportunity to slap you for your mischiefs.
Keep fighting like dogs, keep fooling your people to divert their attention from real issues.
What are those two uniformed porkis doing amidst those bearded nut-heads ?????
they were doing the countdown ….3-2-1…here comes Indian Army….heheh
Next step.. do surgicals in Lahor….. 🙂 : )
Baloch people is proud of the Indian Army. Time for Pakistan to pay for its sins. It’s a joy to see Pakistan bleeding. Long live India! Long live Baluchistan!
what the hell Indians are doing on our newspapers
who the hell u bloddy pakistani .. muslim .. then block for me
This Time India will show you the power of indian Army that did not do Ayub Khan .Time… Modi Zindabad ….Nawaz Sharif Murdabad… you bloddy pakistani..
Pakistan will seize to exist..
Pakistan should also Support Khalistan
what the hell Indians are doing on our newspapers
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