Uri Attack: We’ll Pick Our Own Time & Place to Respond, Says Army

As the dust settles after the Uri attack, India prepares to pay a tribute the all those who laid down their lives.

Abhilash Mallick, Shalaka Shinde & Sushant Talwar
India
Updated:


Wreath laying ceremony of 17 soldiers who died in Uri terror attack in Srinagar. (Photo: PTI)
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Wreath laying ceremony of 17 soldiers who died in Uri terror attack in Srinagar. (Photo: PTI)
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  • Militants attacked Army headquarters in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir around 5:30 am on Sunday
  • Four terrorists gunned down. Eighteen Army personnel lost their lives and around 30 injured
  • Most casualties occurred as tents and temporary shelters caught fire
  • India won’t give a ‘knee-jerk’ reaction to Uri terror attack: Govt sources
  • The weapons uncovered from the slain terrorists had Pakistani markings
  • DGMO reported Jaish-e-Mohammad’s role in the attack
  • PM Narendra Modi said those behind the “despicable attack will not go unpunished”
  • High-level meeting at Modi’s residence was attended by Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Manohar Parrikar among others

No ‘Knee-Jerk’ Reaction to Uri Terror Attack: Govt Sources

Government does not want to take any “knee-jerk” reaction while it was considering various options.

Sources privy to the deliberations among the top government functionaries said there will be no “knee-jerk” reaction “anytime soon” even though 18 soldiers were killed.

Action will be taken only after proper planning, coordination, exploring all options and taking everyone concerned into confidence, sources said.

They recalled that in the case of Myanmar last year, the Army carried out an operation along the border against NSCN-K militants involved in the killing of 18 soldiers in Manipur in June 2015 only after a week. “Here, we have a hostile Pakistani establishment. So any hasty action is completely ruled out,” a source said.

Reason of Disturbance in Kashmir is Cross-Border Terrorism: India at UN

India in a statement at the United Nations Human Rights Council has tightened the screws on Pakistan after it blamed it of promoting violence in the valley.

The fundamental reason for disturbances in Kashmir is cross-border terrorism promoted by Pakistan which is so ruthless that it doesn’t even shy away from using civilians/children by putting them at the front of violent mobs instigated by their handlers from across border.

The statement further equated Pakistani sponsored terrorism to the worst violation of human rights.

Hafiz Saeed and Syed Salahuddin holding rallies in Pakistan can mean only one thing. Active support for such personalities and designated organizations they lead in blatant disregard of rule of law is the new normal in Pakistan.

Pakistan Stands Isolated

Russia has said that it strongly condemns the Uri attack and offered its condolences to the families of the victims. Ambassador A Kadakin speaking on Monday added that Russia stands with India in the fight against terror.

In a move that will add to the growing isolation of Pakistan in the International community, reports suggest that Russia has called off a joint military drill with Pakistan. However, conflicting reports suggest that this decision was taken before the Uri attack.

India’s neighbor, Bangladesh has also backed India in the aftermath of the Uri attack. It’s envoy, Syed Muazzem has said in strong words that Bangladesh will support India in its military operations against Pakistan, reports CNN-News18.

Bangladesh’s Information and Broadcast Minister, Hasan-ul-Haq Inu also questioned Pakistan on its “bad record of harbouring terrorism.”

Japan also expressed solidarity with India in the fight against terrorism, strongly reiterating that no act of terrorism can be justified.

These moves come on the day when Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif had written to the UN security council to ask the international community to pressurise India on the Kashmir issue.
The attack in Uri, Jammu & Kashmir, killed 18 soldiers and injured 30 others. (Photo: PTI)

PM Modi Briefs President Mukherjee On Uri Attack

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan to brief him on the Uri attack.

This meeting came hours after the PM discussed the issue with senior ministers and top officials.

The meeting was attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, NSA Ajit Doval, Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh, and senior officials of the ministries of Home and Defence.

Earlier, President Mukherjee in a series of tweets had said that India will fight off terrorists and their overlords.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/ RashtrapatiBhavn)

Army Calls off Combing Operation in Uri

DGMO Lt General Ranbir Singh announced that the Army has called off its operation in Uri after a thorough search of the attack site.

The army which has been conducting combing operations in Uri since Sunday, called them off after ensuring the area was cleared of all attackers.

Divulging more information on Sunday’s attack, Singh said that the Army recovered four AK Rifles, four grenade launchers and four barrel grenade launchers from the attack site.

In addition, the security forces found 39 under barrel grenade launcher grenades, five hand grenades, two radio sets, two global positioning systems and large quantity of food and medicine packets, having markings of Pakistan during the combing operation.

DGMO’s statement to the media. (Photo: Twitter)

Indian Army Will Respond to Attacks at a Time of Their Own Choosing

Speaking to the media, DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh revealed that there have been total of 17 infiltration bids across the LoC in 2016 — a stark increase in infiltration in the past three to four years — indicating a desperate attempt from across the border to create disturbance in the Valley.

However, he added that these attacks will not go unpunished, as the Indian Army has the required capability to respond to such blatant aggression.

To every adverserial attack we reserve the right to respond at a time of our own choosing.

Mortal Remains of Soldiers Brought Back to Maharashtra

Mortal remains of three soldiers who lost their life in the attack have been brought to Maharashtra.

(Photo: Courtesy: Twitter/ANI_news)

Ties With Pak will Never be The Same Again: Ravi Shankar Prasad

Minister of Information and Technology, Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that India has conclusive evidence of Pakistan role in the attack. 

Our relationship with Pakistan will not be same again. Our patience is running out. There is a limit to patience. The government will consider strategic and diplomatic options and take a decision.
Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister, Information and Technology

Death Toll Rises to 18

Sepoy K Vikas Janardhan succumbed to his injuries at R&R Hospital in New Delhi, taking the death toll in the Uri attack to 18.

Pak Ready to Respond to All Threats, Says General Raheel Sharif

Adding to the rhetoric, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif on Monday said that the Pakistan Army is fully prepared to respond to “direct and indirect threat”.

Chairing Corps Commanders’ Conference held in Rawalpindi, General Sharif added:

Pakistan is fully cognisant and is closely watching the latest happenings in the region and their impact on the security of Pakistan.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Sartaj Aziz accused India of misleading the world opinion to cover up its “reign of terror” in Kashmir by a spate of “vitriolic” and “unsubstantiated” statements.

Pakistan has noted with serious concern the recent spate of vitriolic and unsubstantiated statements emanating from Indian civil and military leadership in the aftermath of yesterday’s attack ... It is a blatant attempt on India’s part to deflect attention from the fast deteriorating humanitarian and human rights situation.
Sartaj Aziz, Foreign Affairs Minister, Pakistan

Maharashtra Announces Financial Assistance for Families of Dead Soldiers

Maharashtra Government has announced financial assistance of Rs 15 lakh each to the families of soldiers from Maharashtra who lost their lives in the Uri attack on Sunday.

The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis also took on the government. He said:

Attackers had sufficient information about the Army establishment in Uri. Many questions arise but we only have tweets and statements.

Pakistan’s Possible Involvement in Uri Attack

GPS tracker movements show Pakistan’s hand in Sunday’s attack. The GPS movements were traced back to Pakistan, sources said.

Arms with Pakistan army markings to be given to Pakistan at the DGMO level, the sources added.

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India to Isolate Pakistan at Every International Forum

Sources claimed that a Prime Minister level meeting agreed to diplomatically isolate Pakistan at every international grouping and added that India is going to present all actionable evidence from the Uri attack, if required at international bodies.

VK Singh Calls for Probe Into Security Gaps

Union Minister and former army chief VK Singh, on Monday, said the “lacunae” which led to the attack at an army base in Uri need to be investigated even as he advised the Indian Army to decide on its response “coolly” with proper planning.

Having seen the army closely, I feel, it needs to be analysed as to what happened there ... It needs to be investigated how the incident took place and what were the lacunae.
VK Singh

The youth wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Patna, Bihar staged a protest against Pakistan over Uri attack.

Congress workers in Ludhiana, Punjab staged similar protest against Pakistan.

Congress workers in Ludhiana, Punjab protest against the Uri attack on Monday, 19 September 2016. (Photo Courtesy: ANI)

Amitabh Bachchan Condemns Uri Attack

Veteran actor condemned the terrorist attack in Uri and urged the government to take stern action against the incident.

It is a sad news. Our soldiers are losing their lives without any provocation. We hope that the government will take stern action against this. 
Amitabh Bachchan

Sushma Swaraj to Raise Uri Issue in UNGA

India to raise Uri attack in United Nations General Assembly, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to strongly emphasise on Pakistan’s involvement in her speech on 26 September, media reports claim citing sources.

This is a matter of great concern for us. We should guard against the rise of ISIS here. Time has come to take stern measures. After the Uri attack, India needs to give a befitting reply to elements in Pakistan who are against peace.
Yashwant Sinha, Former External Affairs Minister
Yashwant Sinha, Former External Affairs Minister speaks about Uri attack on Monday. (Photo: ANI)

UP, Bihar, Jharkhand Announce Monetary Help to Martyrs’ Families From Their State

Nitish Kumar, Chief Minsiter of Bihar has annoucned Rs 5 lakh whereas Raghubar Das, Chief Minister of Jharkhand announced Rs 10 lakh for the families of soldiers from their respective states who lost their lives in the Uri attack.

Akhilesh Yadav, Chief Minster of Uttar Pradesh announced financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh each to the families of jawans from UP martyred in Uri.

High-level Meeting at 7 RCR

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Army Chief Dalbir Singh, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval reach Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence at 7 Race Course Road to hold a high-level meeting to discuss the Uri attack.

High-level meeting underway at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence, 7 RCR on Monday. (Photo Courtesy: ANI)

Lawyers, Youth Congress Protest Against Uri Attack

Lawyers in Srinagar and members of the youth Congress in Chandigarh held protest rallies against the terrorist attack.

Youth Congress members protest in Chandigarh on Monday, 19 September 2016 against the terrorist attack in Uri. (Photo Courtesy: ANI)
Mehbooba Mufti, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir at the wreath laying ceremony of 17 soldiers martyred in the Uri attack. (Photo Courtesy: ANI)

Mehbooba Mufti Pays Tribute to Soldiers

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti led senior Army and police officials in paying tributes at the wreath laying ceremony for the 17 soldiers killed in the militant attack in Uri.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti laid wreaths on the coffins of the martyred soldiers at a sombre ceremony held at headquarters of the Chinar Corps here at Badamibagh.
An Army Official
J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti at wreath laying ceremony of 17 soldiers who died in Uri terror attack. (Photo Courtesy: ANI)

General Officer Commanding of the Chinar Corps Lt General Satish Dua and Director General of Police K Rajendra Kumar were among senior security officials who laid wreaths to pay their respects.

The CM Mufti later visited the soldiers, injured in yesterday’s attack, at the 92 Base Hospital of the Army. Following Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar’s directions, the Army has made arrangements for transporting the mortal remains of all the martyrs directly to their respective hometowns.

Mehbooba Mufti, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir meets soldiers injured in Uri attack at 96 base hospital on Monday, 19 September 2016. (Photo Courtesy: ANI)

High-Level Meeting to Discuss Uri Attack Begins

A high-level review meeting to discuss the Uri attack chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh began on Monday morning. The meeting is being attended by the IB Chief, Army Chief and DGMO.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh is to chair the high-level meeting to discuss the Uri attack. (Photo: ANI)
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar arrives for high-level meeting chaired by HM. (Photo: ANI)
MoS PMO Jitendra Singh arrives for high-level meeting. (Photo: ANI)

Rajnath Singh Calls for a High-Level Review Meeting

Home Minister Rajnath Singh has called for a high-level review meeting to discuss the Uri attack at 10 am on Monday.

The Defence Minister, National Security Agency, Director of Intelligence Bureau, RAW Chief, Home Secretary, Defence Secretary, Deputy General of BSF, Deputy General of CRPF and other senior MHA and MoD officials will be present in the meeting.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is supposed to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to brief him on the Uri attack.

Narendra Modi Not to Attend SAARC Summit in Pakistan

Firstpost reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not travel to Pakistan in November for the SAARC Summit. The report said that the decision against Modi’s attendance was taken weeks before Sunday’s Uri attack by Pakistani terrorists.

Wreath Laying Ceremony of Soldiers to Take Place in Srinagar

It is an encounter that has shaken the Indian Army. On Sunday morning, 17 Army personnel were killed and 30 were left injured by four heavily armed terrorists in one of the worst terror attacks on the Army in Jammu & Kashmir. At least four soldiers are critical, and the death toll is feared to rise.

Also Read: Uri Attack: How the Events That Martyred 17 Soldiers Unfolded

The wreath laying ceremony of the 17 soldiers, who lost their lives in the Uri attack, will take place in Srinagar on Monday before their bodies are sent back to their families.

The four terrorists, who were later gunned down, attacked the Army headquarters in Uri, near the Line of Control (LoC), in the wee hours of Sunday morning. The casualties were unprecedented, as tents and temporary shelters with troops inside them caught fire.

The weapons uncovered from the slain terrorists had Pakistani markings. The DGMO reported Jaish-e-Mohammad’s role in the attack.

Also Read:
Uri Attack: Did Fire Delay Combative Action Against Terrorists?
Defensive and In Denial: How Pakistanis Reacted to the Uri Attack
Uri Attack: Uri Attack: 17 Jawans Martyred, US and France Stand With India

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Published: 19 Sep 2016,08:58 AM IST

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