Home Minister Rajnath Singh calls all-party meeting at 4 p.m.; Nawaz Sharif calls it "unprovoked and naked aggression".
India has carried out surgical strikes targeting "launchpads" for terrorists across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, said the Indian Army. The strike was carried out on Wednesday night, senior military and diplomatic sources informed the media at a hurriedly called media briefing at the Ministry of External Affairs.
"Based on very specific and credible information which we received yesterday that some terrorist teams had positioned itself along the line of control, India Army carried out surgical strikes last night at these launch pads. The operations were focused to ensure that these terrorists do not succeed in endangering lives of citizens in our country. During the counter-terrorist operations, significant casualties have been caused to the terrorists and those who were trying to support them. The operations have since ceased," Director General of Military Operations Lt. Gen Ranbir Singh said.
He sought the support of the Pakistan Army in erasing the menace of terrorism. Pakistan has responded to the government statement saying there has been "no such strike."
"We do not have any plans to continue. However the Indian armed forces are fully prepared to deal with any contingency which may arise. I have spoken to Pakistani DGMO and expressed our concern. It is India's intention to maintain peace and tranquillity in the region but we cannot certainly allow terrorists to operate across the Line of Control with impunity and attack our citizens," said the DGMO.
#IndianArmy conducted surgical strikes y'day, to foil infiltration attempts; resulting in significant casualties to terrorists: DGMO@adgpi
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The attack was carried out following the September 18 terror strike in Uri that claimed the lives of 18 Indian soldiers.
The DGMO pointed out that during the investigation of the terror attack, the proof of the involvement of Pakistani elements was clearly discovered.
India tried to solve the situation from the Uri attack at the diplomatic level but did not receive an adequate response, he said. Earlier on Thursday morning, Army officials briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the srcurity situation at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security. A meeting the Prime Minister due to thold on reviewing the MFN status to Pakistan was postponed to next week, the Prime Minister's Office said.
In a statement on its website, the DG-ISPR of the Pakistani army said that there had been a major exchange of fire overnight, in which two Pakistani rangers were killed. "Pakistani troops befittingly responded to Indian unprovoked firing in Bhimber, Hotspring, Kel and Lipa sectors which started at 0230 and continued till 0800" the Pakistani military spokesperson claimed.
The updates:
1:55 p.m: Congress MLA Randeep Surjewala on the strikes:
Randeep S Surjewala "@rssurjewala
INC wholeheartedly supports the surgical strike on terror pads in POK by Indian Army. Salute the valour of our armed forces.
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1:50 p.m: National President of BJP Amit Shah congratulates PM Modi and the Indian army.
Indian Army has inflicted heavy damage on terrorists, without any casualty, reaffirms Army's valour and commitment to nation's security.
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1.40 p.m.: Home Minister Rajnath Singh calls all-party meeting at 4 p.m.
1.32 p.m: More reactions coming in. Former Karnataka CM responds to the strikes.
Congratulate #IndianArmy for Conducting Surgical Strikes On LoC & Killing terrorists . Terrorism is condemnable#IndiaStrikesBack
1.30 p.m: BJP leader Satish Upadhyay responds to the surgical strikes carried out by the army.
Satish Upadhyay "@upadhyaysbjp
PM #ModiPunishesPak as #IndianArmy conducts major#SurgicalStrikes inside Paki terror camps. Pak shud know they r dealing wid a different PM
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1.20 p.m.: Responding to Indian government's statement that security forces conducted a surgical strike across Line of Control on Wednesday night, Pakistan said there has been no such strike.
"Instead, there had been cross border fire initiated and conducted by India which is existential phenomenon. As per rules of engagement, same was strongly and befittingly responded by Pakistani troops," said a Pakistan government statement.
Pakistan said: "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 surgical strike is fabrication of truth. Pakistan has made it clear that if there is a surgical strike on Pakistani soil, same will be strongly responded." - Devesh K. Pandey
1.15 p.m.: Home Minister informs Chief Ministers of Punjab, Bengal, Odisha, CPI-M's Sitaram Yechury and Congress' Ghulam Nabi Azad about surgical strikes.
1.05 p.m.: Sensex crashes 555 points and Nifty slides about 170 points in noon trade after reports of surgical strikes against Pakistan.
1 p.m.: Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif responds:
"Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has strongly condemned the unprovoked and naked aggression of Indian forces resulting in martyrdom of two Pakistani soldiers along the LOC.
PM #NawazSharif condemns #Indian aggression at the line of control says our vision for peaceful neighborhood should not be taken as weakness
PM has paid rich tribute to the martyred jawans and said that our intent for peaceful neighbourhood should not be mistaken as our weakness as our valiant forces are fuly capable of defending the teretotrial integrity of country and can thwart any evil design made to undermine the sovereignty of Paksitan."
(With inputs from Agencies)
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