India conducted surgical strikes on terror launch pads last night across the Line of Control (LoC) and inflicted significant casualties and heavy damages.
The announcement of the sudden action by the army to target terrorists was made by the DGMO Lt Gen Ranveer Singh at a hurriedly called news conference during which External affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup was also present.
Gen Singh said India shared with Pak army details of the surgical strikes which followed “very specific information” that terrorists were positioning themselves in the launch pads along the LoC.
Details of duration of the surgical strikes or when it was conducted or the place was not immediately given.
“Indian Army conducted surgical strikes last night on terror launch pads across the Line of Control(LoC),” Singh said, adding India was ready for any kind of contingency.
Gen Singh said heavy damages were caused to the terror camps and there were significant casualties, adding that as of now there was no plan for further operation.
Sources said that at least two terror camps were struck during the surgical strikes.
“We can’t allow terrorists to operate across the LoC.
There has been a surge in infiltration,” Gen Singh said.
Gen Singh said the operation to neutralise terrorists has since ceased and “we don’t have any plans for any further operation as of now” but added the armed forces will not allow terrorists to carry out any attacks in J and K or any major Indian cities.
He said the strikes were launched after getting “very specific and credible” intelligence input that the infiltrators were being pushed to carry out attacks in Jammu and Kashmir and in some major Indian cities.
The announcement of the strikes was made soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security(CCS) which was attended by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Army Chief Dalbir Singh Suhag and DGMO Singh.
Gen Singh said there were 20 infiltration bids on the border into India recently. He said there were Pakistani markings on GPS systems and on other recoveries made from them.
He said some terrorists were caught were residents of Pakistan. He said they were given training there.
“Despite our persistent urging that Pakistan respect its commitment made in January 2004 not to allow its soil or territory under its control to be used for terrorism against India, there have been no let up in infiltration or terrorist actions inside our territory,” he said.
Singh further said, “If the damage has been limited it has been primarily due to the efforts of soldiers of Indian army who are deployed in a multi-tier counter infiltration grid and most of the infiltration bids have been foiled at those locations. The Indian armed forces have been extremely vigilant in the face of continuing threat.” .
(With inputs from PTI)
