PM Modi Briefs President Mukherjee on Security Situation

Pak Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif addressing the cabinet meet said that Islamabad wants peace in the region.

The Quint
India
Updated:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Pranab Mukherjee to brief him about the security situation. (Photo: ANI)
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Pranab Mukherjee to brief him about the security situation. (Photo: ANI)
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  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Pranab Mukherjee to brief him on the security situation after the surgical strikes.
  • China extended its veto on India’s move for UN blacklisting of Jaish-e-Mohammed Chief, Masood Azhar.
  • Home Minister Rajnath Singh calls second Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting after the surgical strikes were announced.
  • On Friday, another soldier injured in the Uri terror attack died, raising the death toll to 20.
  • On Thursday, DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh announced surgical strikes on 7 terror launchpads across the LoC.
  • Pakistan has denied the surgical strikes by India, calling the attacks to be cross-border firing.
  • The Indian Army claims 38 terrorists, two Pakistani soldiers were killed in the strikes.
  • Pakistan claimed to have killed 8 soldiers and captured one Indian soldier named Chandu Babulal Chohan.

PM Modi Met President to Brief Him About the Recent Developments

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Pranab Mukherjee to brief him about the security situation along the LoC after the surgical strikes.

(Photo: ANI)

Though it was not known what transpired, the meeting came against the backdrop of surgical strike carried out by the Indian Army against terror launch pads across the Line of Control two days back.

The action, as a retaliation to the Uri terror attack, has heightened tensions between India and Pakistan with fears of military confrontation.

China Extends Technical Hold on JeM Chief

China, on Saturday, said its technical hold on India's move to get Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar who was designated a terrorist by the United Nations has "been extended", days before the expiry of the hold.

The Chinese technical hold was set to lapse on Monday, and had China not raised further objection, the resolution designating Azhar as a terrorist could stand passed automatically. The hold has been extended for another six months.

China had 3 options, extend technical hold, convert hold to a block or allow designation to go through and they decided to pursue first option, reported ANI.

China was the only member in the 15-nation UN organ to put a hold on India's application with all other 14 members of the Council supporting New Delhi's bid to place Azhar on the 1267 sanctions list that would subject him to an assets freeze and travel ban.

Pak Assembly Passes Resolutions Against 'Indian Aggression'

Pakistan's Sindh Assembly has passed three separate resolutions condemning "Indian aggression" along the LoC, saying such an act was a serious violation of international laws.

The resolutions were moved in the House of provincial Assembly by lawmakers of the ruling Pakistan People's Party, opposition Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Pakistan Muslim League (Functional).

The resolutions, unanimously passed by the House, said that on September 29, Indian forces violated the internationally-recognised Line of Control (LoC) and resorted to firing due to which two Pakistan armymen were killed, The News International reported.

It said such an act of India amounted to serious violation of the LoC and also tantamount to attacking integrity and security of Pakistan.

Army Chief Compliments Team That Conducted Cross-LoC Surgical Strikes

Indian Army Chief General Dalbir Singh, on Saturday, personally complimented the soldiers who carried out surgical strikes against terror launch pads in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

The Army chief visited the headquarters of the Northern Command in Udhampur town to review the operational preparedness of the army along the borders in the wake of heightened tension in India-Pakistan relationship because of the surgical strike by India across LoC.

General Singh personally complimented officers and jawans who successfully targeted seven terror launch pads located in Tatta Pani, Leepa Valley, Bhimber and Kael in Pakistani-administered Kashmir, they said.

"In addition to the the Northern Command chief, commanders of all the three corps deployed in J&K were present during the deliberations," defence sources said here.

Can't Be the Recipient of Terrorist Attacks and Do Nothing: Hamid Ansari

Vice President of India, Hamid Ansari, also backed the surgical strikes and said that by this move, the government has made it clear that action was necessary.

He mentioned how India can’t remain silent while facing terrorist attacks all the time. He asked people to leave the decision making with the government and people in-charge.

Parrikar Talks Tough With Pakistan Again

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar stated that Pakistan is still dealing with the shock of the surgical strike, making it hard for them to accept it.

Pakistan should not take India’s silence as weakness. Pakistan didn’t probe the matter as it is still in shock after the surgical strikes. If Pakistan continues with such conspiracies, we will give them a befitting reply again.
Manohar Parrikar
People evacuated, moved to safe places after ceasefire violation in Pallanwala, Akhnoor region of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, 1 October 2016. (Photo: ANI/altered by The Quint)

Army Chief Visits J&K Amid Continued Ceasefire Violations

Army Chief Dalbir Singh visited Northern Command in Jammu and Kashmir to review operational preparedness along the Line of Control (LoC). Singh will also visit the Western Command.

General Dalbir Singh is arriving here today (Saturday) morning. He will take stock of the prevailing situation on the borders in the state. The will receive a briefing at the Udhampur headquarters of the Northern Command. GOC-in-C of Northern Command and the three corps commanders of 14, 15 and 16 will be present during the briefing session. It is likely the Army Chief might visit some forward positions on the Line of Control (LoC). 
Defense Sources

He reportedly wishes to congratulate the Special Forces who carried out the surgical strikes.

Uri Brigade Commander Shifted Out

The Brigade Commander of Uri sector was shifted out as the probe in the attack, in which 20 Indian soldiers, were killed is underway. Four militants who attacked the Indian Army camp in Uri were killed in retaliation.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had admitted that “something went wrong” with the Uri attack.

Another Ceasefire Violation in Akhnoor

Pakistan violated ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pallanwala sector in Akhnoor region on Saturday morning, the state police said.

Heavy mortar shelling was heard from across border since 4 am, police said. This is the fourth one in the past 48-50 hours.

Pakistan Postpones SAARC Summit

Snubbed by an five Saarc nations, Pakistan on Friday announced its decision of postponing the date for the SAARC summit in Islamabad, reports PTI.

However there is no clarity on the new dates for the summit. Pakistan has revealed that it announce new set of dates soon for the 19th SAARC Summit.

However, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan laid the blame for the postponing of the summit squarely on Modi’s. It said the decision by India to derail Summit effectively contradicts Prime Minister Modi’s own call to fight against poverty in the region.

Nepal government in a statement has said that even if one country withdraws, the summit cannot be held. It also added that such indefinite postponement of the SAARC summit is not good for its members.

We appeal that an environment be created to hold the summit with the guaranteed participation of all members.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs of India took to Twitter to respond to the development.

(Photo: IANS)

Pakistan Should Take Steps to Stop Terrorists From Using Its Territory: Russia

Russia in a statement on Friday asked India and Pakistan to control escalating tensions along the LoC. In strong words it further asked the Pakistani establishment to ensure its land is not used by terrorists.

We are concerned with the aggravation lately of the situation along the line of control between India and Pakistan. We are calling on the parties not to allow any escalation of tension and to settle the existing problems by political and diplomatic means through negotiations. We stand for decisive struggle against terrorism in all its manifestations. We expect that the Government of Pakistan should take effective steps in order to stop the activities of terrorist groups in the territory of the country.

Pakistan Stands by Nawaz Sharif: Hafiz Saeed

Lashkar-e-Taiba founder and chief of Jammat-ud-Dawa Hafiz Saeed on Friday said that the entire country was standing by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after he highlighted the freedom struggle of Kashmiri people at the UN General Assembly.

He also warned India of a "befitting response" for its military operation in PoK, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi will now know what is meant by "surgical strikes".

"We will tell you what is a real surgical strike...and you will get the deserved response soon," Saeed said in a public address in Faisalabad here on Friday.

After he (Nawaz Sharif) articulated the emotions of Kashmiris at the UN, people from all over the country stand with him...As long as he spoke friendship with India, nation was not with him.” 
Hafiz Saeed

Saeed said that India has started "aggression, (now) government should play the role to secure salvation of Kashmiris from cruelties".

Raj Thackeray Slams Salman Khan

MNS chief Raj Thackeray today slammed Salman Khan for supporting Pakistani artistes, saying he was only concerned about his movies doing well in that country.

Thackeray, whose party had issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Pakistani artistes last week, said these actors had refused to condemn the Uri attack.

Is there a dearth of talent in India that we need to borrow artistes from Pakistan? These people are only concerned about their movies doing well in Pakistan... The bullets that our soldiers face are real, they are not filmy.

Earlier, Salman said that Pakistani artistes are not terrorists and they come to India with proper visa and work permit.

Will Not Allow Anyone to Cast an Evil Eye on Pakistan, Says Nawaz Sharif

Pakistan's cabinet met on Friday to review the situation on the Line of Control (LoC) in the wake of surgical strikes by the Indian Army.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired the meeting, which was convened to put across a collective response of the nation to the challenge thrown by the latest events, Radio Pakistan reported.

Sharif, addressing the cabinet meet said that Islamabad wants peace in the region. However, this message was accompanied with a warning. He said:

We will not allow anyone to cast an evil eye on Pakistan.

Shimla Pact Was a Mistake: Punjab(Pakistan) CM, Shahbaz Sharif

Punjab (Pakistan) Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Friday termed the Shimla Agreement signed by India and Pakistan after the 1971 war as a "big mistake" as it hurt the Kashmiri "freedom struggle."

"The Shimla agreement was a big mistake (on the part of Islamabad) as it dampened the spirit of the Kashmiris fighting for their freedom and hurt their movement," he told a conference here.

Shahbaz Sharif is the brother of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The Shimla agreement resulted in the release of some 90,000 Pakistani soldiers imprisoned by India following the 1971 war that led to East Pakistan breaking away and emerging as an independent Bangladesh.

India Faces Terror From Across its Border: Vice President Hamid Ansari

India’s Vice President, Hamid Ansari addressing the National Assembly of Mali in Bamako on Friday reitterated that spreading tide of extremism and terrorism is a threat both India and Mali face. However, in a veiled reference to Pakistan he said unlike Mali, India faces it from across its borders.

Terrorism can’t be justified on any grounds. India condemns it in all forms. It should be dealt in comprehensive manner.
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Rajnath Reviews National Security, Suggests 'High Alert'

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday reviewed the security situation in the country, particularly along the border with Pakistan in states like Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, and directed central security organisations to be on high alert.

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and top officials of security and intelligence agencies attended the review meeting.

During the hour-long meeting, Doval and others briefed the Home Minister about the situation along the border and steps taken to foil any Pakistani design.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) top brass have been asked to intensify security at all industrial units, airports and other locations wherever they are deployed, an official source said.

All BSF units deployed along the international border in Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat have been directed to step up vigil.

(Photo: IANS)

Will Give India Most Befitting Reply for Any Misadventure, Says Pak Army Chief: Report

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of Pakistan, General Raheel Sharif while visiting a newly developed Combat Reaction Training facility near Lahore sent out a warning to India, reports Pakistani website, Dispatch News Desk. He said:

Any misadventure by our adversary will meet the most befitting response from Pakistan.

Earlier in the day, Sharif at a separate event stepped up the rhetoric by claiming that “Pakistan Army is the most battle hardened army in the world which is ready to face any challenge due to highest standard of physical fitness, professionalism and motivation.”

Amid Escalating Tension, Indo-Pak Bus Service Continues

As tension increases in the areas close to the Indo-Pak border, tens of thousands of villagers along the border belt with Pakistan are facing a war-like situation.

Punjab has seen over 400,000 people from border areas evacuated from their homes to "safer areas". However, amid all the chaos, India-Pakistan bus service remains unaffected sending out a message to all those calling for war.

Salman Khan Supports Pakistani Artists

Actor Salman Khan was questioned about his stand on the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s (MNS) threat to Pakistani artists in the light of Uri attack during an event.

Pakistanis actors are artists not terrorists. Government gives them visas and permits. 
Salman Khan, Actor

While Kangana Ranaut was less straight-forward, she also agreed that art must prevail.

Right now we are very overwhelmed with the loss of our soldiers, the country is mourning the loss. So its really hard to be objective right now but we hope the love and art prevails. 
Kangana Ranaut, Actress

Filmmaker Shyam Benegal, also put his weight firmly behind the Pakistani artists by saying that India’s fight is with the Pakistani government and not Pakistani people.

Artists came cause they were called for some project, whats their fault? Pakistan government has nothing to do with the individuals...We are not against the people of Pakistan, nor are people across the border against us. It is about the governments. 

Pakistan to Approach UN Security Council Over India's 'Surgical Strikes'

Pakistan's UN Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi is set to meet UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Friday to inform him about the "surgical strikes" that India carried out on terrorist launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC).

On Thursday, Lodhi met with New Zealand's UN Ambassador Gerard van Bohemen, who is the current president of the 15-member Security Council and urged him to informally brief the body on the escalating tension along the border, Radio Pakistan reported.

Talking to the media after the meeting, Lodhi said she brought to his attention the dangerous situation that was building up in "our region as a result of Indian provocation".

She said, "our call to the international community is to avert a crisis before there is one."

Lodhi said Pakistan was "showing maximum restraint but there were limits to our restraint if India continues with provocations."

Indian Army Discredits Brutal Videos in Circulation

An Indian Army source has said that there are videos of Indian soldiers being killed and that they are being telecast on Pakistani television and circulated on social media.

The videos are doctored and an example of black propaganda, the Army source told ANI.

As precaution after surgical strikes declared by India, villagers from Fazilka in Punjab evacuated on Friday, 30 September 2016. (Photo: ANI/altered by The Quint)

Rahul Gandhi Thanks PM Modi

Rahul Gandhi, vice president of Congress, spoke in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government’s decision to carry out surgical strikes across LoC.

My party and I stand with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. What he has done is right. I want to thank him for the first time in two and half years as he has taken an action that is of the stature of a Prime Minister.
Rahul Gandhi, Congress Vice President

Nawaz Sharif Holds Pakistan Cabinet Meet

Radio Pakistan quoted Sharif as making these comments at a cabinet meeting held to discuss the latest situation on the Line of Control (LoC) and in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sharif said Pakistan wanted peace to pursue its development agenda "but every Pakistani is ready to defend the motherland".

But Sharif insisted that Kashmir – Pakistan holds the northern third of the divided state and India the southern two-thirds – was an "unfinished agenda of the partition of the sub-continent".

He said New Delhi's "continued brutalities" in Jammu and Kashmir was unacceptable to Pakistan.

As precaution after surgical strikes declared by India, villagers from Fazilka in Punjab evacuated on Friday, 30 September 2016. (Photo: ANI/altered by The Quint)

Pakistan Blocks India’s Participation in Trade Meet

Pakistan deprived India of participation in Asian Trade Promotion Forum CEO meet by withholding travel permission of trade counsellor of Indian High Commission in Islamabad to travel to Lahore, according to sources, reports ANI.

The ATPF CEO meet was scheduled for 24-26 September. The forum had asked the Indian High Commission to send a representative.

Pakistan Chief Justice Cancels New Delhi Visit

Chief Justice of Pakistan Anwar Zaheer Jamali has rejected an invitation for a conference scheduled in New Delhi next month amid rising tensions between the two neighbouring countries

Pakistan Can’t Live in Denial, Says Afghan Ambassador

Pakistan cannot live in denial, denial has to end. If terror groups exist, self defence in the form of action we saw, will continue. 
Shaida Mohd Abdali, Afghan Ambassador

In virtual support for India, Abdali added that “right now the environment is not conducive to conduct SAARC summit with terrorism continuing in region.”

He also extended support to the people of Balochistan and wished a life “free of terror” to them.

Attempts Made to Free Captured Indian Soldier

All attempts are being made to free the Indian soldier captured in Pakistan, identified as Chandu Babulal Chohan, says Home Minister Rajnath Singh, according to media reports.

Pakistan, while denying surgical strikes by India, had claimed that the soldier was captured during the cross-border firing initiated by India. However, the Indian Army has claimed that the Rashtriya Rifles personnel was not a part of the surgical strike and had crossed the LoC inadvertently.

Ceasefire Violations Along LoC

Violating the ceasefire again, Pakistani troops opened fire from small arms along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Akhnoor district.

The firing took place in Pallanwala, Chapriyal and Samnam areas of Jammu district during the night from 0030 hours and ended at 0130 hours, Simrandeep Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu said.

Uri Attack Death toll Rises to 20

The death toll in the Uri attack that took place on 18 September rose to 20 on Friday morning as Naik Raj Kishor Singh succumbed to his injuries.

The Bihar government announces Rs 11 lakh compensation to next of kin of the deceased soldier.

Rajnath Singh to Meet Border Force Brass

After DGMO Ranbir Singh informed that elite troops had carried out surgical strikes in PoK and killed suspected militants, tensions have risen between the two nuclear-armed states.

On Friday, around 11am, Home Minister Rajnath Singh will meet top officials of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police to review the security situation in border areas.

In addition, a CCS meeting is scheduled to take place as well.

US Reacts to Uri Attack Again

A terrorist attack like the one on an Indian Army camp in Uri "escalates tensions", said US State Department Spokesman John Kirby. He also asked Pakistan to take action against UN-designated terrorist outfits and delegitimise them.

Obviously, (terrorist) attacks like that (in Uri) escalate tensions. What I don’t want to do is try to get into, you know, some sort of broad characterisation one way or the other but obviously an attack like this is horrific.
John Kirby

Calling for de-escalation of tension between India and Pakistan, he said, “We've seen those reports (of Indian surgical attacks), we're following the situation closely as I think you can understand. We also understand that the Indian and Pakistani militaries have been in communication.”

We believe that continued communication is obviously important to reduce tensions. We’ve repeatedly expressed our concerns regarding the danger that terrorism poses to the region and we all know that terrorism in many ways knows no border.

But Kirby refused to comment if there was any cooperation between India and the US on the latest Indian operation.

"I don't have a specific laundry list here to read out to you because, frankly, it’s something that we've been constantly working at with our partners in the region," he said.

US Ambassador Richard Verma Rushes Back to India

The US Ambassador to India, Richard Verma, who was in Washington DC, has rushed back to New Delhi.

As far as I know, he’s returning to New Delhi. My understanding is that he believed that it was appropriate for him to go back. He has got a big job. There a lot of responsibilities that come with it. And, obviously it’s a very dynamic situation and he felt it was prudent to go back. We support that.
John Kirby

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Published: 30 Sep 2016,10:49 AM IST

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