Uri Attack Live: Sharif Begins Talks With Army Gen Amidst Tension
The attack in Uri in the wee hours of Sunday morning killed 18 soldiers, and left around 30 injured.
- Pakistan cancelled flights to Gilgit, Skardu and Chitral due to increasing tensions while Nawaz Sharif began talks with Army General
- Pakistani troops have violated ceasefire along the Line of Control in Uri sector, to which India retaliated
- Ten terrorists and one jawan have been killed in the two infiltration bids in Jammu and Kashmir
- Ahead of Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif’s UN speech, US Secretary of State John Kerry asked him to prevent terrorism
- 18 soldiers were killed, 30 injured in an attack on Uri army camp on Sunday morning
Tensions Mount in Pakistan
According to latest reports from Pakistani media, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) cancelled all flights to Gilgit, Skardu and Chitral for 21 September citing “northern areas airspace restrictions” as reasons.
Danyal Gilani, the official spokesperson for PIA, said:
Additionally, Nawaz Sharif’s party Twitter handle mentioned a telephonic conversation between the Pakistani Prime Minister and the Chief of Army Staff General Rahil Raheel Shareef.
Top BJP leaders including Amit Shah, Arun Jaitley, Manohar Parrikar and Sushma Swaraj meet to discuss response to Uri attack, according to NDTV reports.
Cabinet Committee on Security May Discuss Uri Attack on Wednesday
The Cabinet Committee on Security is likely to meet on Wednesday morning to discuss the situation arising out of the Uri terror attack. Sources said the Cabinet Committee will meet ahead of the meeting of the Union Cabinet.
The issue of terror strike on an army camp in Uri which led to the death of 18 soldiers will figure in the meeting. Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi has discussed the terror attack with top ministers, the CCS will formally discuss the issue.
The CCS could also have other agenda besides the Uri strike. Sources in the government said that though such security-related issues are not discussed in the Union Cabinet, the issue of Uri attack could find a mention.
Musharraf Warns of Pak Counter Strike If India Retaliates For Uri Attack
Former Pakistan president General Pervez Musharraf told CNN News 18 India that Islamabad will strike at “a time and place of its choosing” if New Delhi resorted to any military retaliation to the Uri attack.
Musharraf also claimed that JeM was not at all active in Pakistan.
Source: News18
Pakistan Intelligence Chief to Skip SAARC Meet in India
Amidst the ongoing hostility over Uri terror attack, Pakistan has decided not to send its intelligence chief to India to attend a conference of top security experts of SAARC countries beginning Thursday.
The two-day conference of the High-Level Group of Eminent Experts from South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries, to be held, is being hosted by Director of Intelligence Bureau Dineshwar Sharma and intelligence chiefs of all other SAARC nations.
Ten Terrorists, One Jawan Killed in Infiltration Bid
Two infiltration bids were made from across the border in Kashmir on Tuesday but they were foiled by the Army in an encounter in which 10 terrorists and a jawan were killed even as Pakistani troops violated ceasefire and fired at Indian positions.
Pakistan was providing covering fire to engage Indian Army in attempt to recover bodies of the terrorists killed on Tuesday by Indian troops, according to reports.
Ahead of Sharif’s UN Speech, Kerry Asks Pak to Do More Against Terrorism
Ahead of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s UN speech, US Secretary of State John Kerry asked him to prevent terrorists from using Pakistani territory as safe havens, as he expressed strong concern over the violence in Kashmir, particularly the terror attack on an Indian army base.
According to MoD Sources, Defence Minister, concerned with death of soldiers in tents and the failure to detect infiltration, has asked for a detailed report from Army on Uri Attack.
Strong Responses from the International Community Against Uri Attack
India, Afghanistan should consider boycotting SAARC meet in Pakistan, Afghan envoy told NDTV.
Pakistan Violates Ceasefire
Pakistan Army troopers fired at Indian posts near the Line of Control (LoC) on Tuesday. The exchange of fire was continuing an hour after it started.
The firing violates the 2003 ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan along the international boundary and the LoC — the de facto border that divides Jammu and Kashmir between the two neighbours.
Two I-Com Radios Found from JeM Terrorists
Two I-Com radios used by Pakistan Army have been recovered from Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists. Pakistan Army was allegedly supplying radio sets to JeM and Lashkar-e-Taiba, according to News 18.
Afghanistan, Germany Condemn Uri Attack
Ashraf Ghani, President of Afghanistan, condemned the attack on military base in Uri, Kashmir and conveyed his support to India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked him for extending support.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German Foreign Minister, also condemned the Uri attack, saying:
CM Mufti, Governor Vohra Meets Home Secy Rajiv Mehrishi
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is in a meeting with Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi in Srinagar.
After meeting Mufti, Mehrishi met Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra.
NIA Files FIR
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed an FIR in the Uri attack case. A six-member team will head to Uri soon to collect evidence.
The agency will collect blood samples and fingerprints of the four slain terrorists. The Indian Army meanwhile, will hand over all weapons, GPS, navigation map and all other evidence unearthed so far in the investigation.
As part of the investigation, the NIA will send GPS and icon satellite sets to the US for forensic investigation, in order to find out what route the terrorists chose, when and how they entered the area.
Home Secy Rajiv Mehrishi to Hold Review Meeting
Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi will review the security situation in Kashmir. Mehrishi arrived in Srinagar early on Tuesday morning, two days after four Jaish-e-Mohammad militants stormed the army base in Uri sector.
The Union Home Secretary will hold a security review meeting which will be attended by top officials from various security forces, police and intelligence agencies, the officials said.
Mehrishi was scheduled to arrive on Monday, but postponed the visit by one day.
HM Rajnath Singh Calls Review Meeting at 10:30
Home Minister Rajnath Singh has called a review meeting at 10:30 am to go over the security situation in the wake of the Uri attacks, and the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
Hypocrisy Toward Terrorism Is Unacceptable: MJ Akbar at UNGA
Describing terrorism as an “existential threat”, India has said that “hypocrisy” towards the menace is unacceptable and underlined that terrorism is the “principle cause” of the large-scale refugee movement.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, Akbar said:
Underlining that “prevention is better than cure”, Akbar said the international community has to address issues like terrorism, prevent armed conflict and facilitate development, which will help ensure people are not forced to flee their homeland.
Martyred Soldiers Brought Home for Last Rites
Pak Army Chief Says He’s Ready for Any Challenge
Pakistan’s army chief General Raheel Sharif said his army was prepared to face any challenge and that his men were aware of the terror threat in the region.
He added:
His remarks come a day after Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif’s advisor Sartaj Aziz called the Uri attack a “blatant attempt” to distract from “fast deteriorating humanitarian and rights situation in Kashmir.”
Pak PM Sharif Meets John Kerry, Brings up Kashmir
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday raised the Kashmir issue in his meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry, urging Washington to “play a role” in the resolution of the dispute.
Pakistan’s envoy to the UN Maleeha Lodhi tweeted:
Sharif, however, didn’t comment on the Uri attack when probed by journalists, and has so far not made any statements about the attack. He will be speaking at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday.
The weapons recovered from the four slain terrorists had Pakistani markings on them. According to sources, GPS tracker movements also show Pakistan’s hand in the attack, as the movement traces back to the country.
India Weighs Its Options Against Pak
In the wake of Uri, India is now weighing its options against Pakistan, with the army vowing to pick its own “time and place” to retaliate. The political leadership authorised a global diplomatic blitz aimed at isolating Islamabad as a backer of terrorism.
This comes soon after top sources had revealed that India does not want to take any “knee-jerk” actions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi summoned a meeting of senior ministers and military and security advisers to formulate an appropriate response.
In the evening, Modi called on President Pranab Mukherjee and briefed him about the high-level meeting.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj did not attend the meeting was conspicuous in her absence at the meeting.
India Lays Martyrs of Uri Attack to Rest
Situation Wouldn’t Have Worsened if Rahul Was PM: Solanki
In the wake of Uri terror attack, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Bharat Solanki blamed the PDP-BJP led coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir for the rise in “Pak-sponsored” terror attacks in that state.
The situation in Jammu and Kashmir would not have worsened if Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi was the Prime Minister of the country, he said.
Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of trying to divide people on the basis of caste and religion, the Congress leader asked:
Pakistan Stands Isolated
Russia has said that it strongly condemns the Uri attack and offered its condolences to the families of the victims.
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.
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 too expressed solidarity with India in the fight against terrorism, strongly reiterating that no act of terrorism can be justified.
Strongly condemning the terrorist attack on the army camp, top American lawmakers across the aisle called for bringing the perpetrators of the crime to justice.
How the Uri Attack Unfolded
In the wee hours of Sunday morning, four heavily armed terrorists entered the army camp in Uri and killed 17 soldiers. Within three minutes after entering, the terrorists launched 17 grenades that reportedly set a diesel dump on fire.
Of the 17 who were killed instantaneously on Sunday morning, 13 or 14 were burnt alive in the tents and temporary shelter that had caught fire.
On Monday, another soldier succumbed to his burn injures in Delhi’s R&R Hospital, taking the death toll to 18.
The Uri attacks has been one of the worst attacks on the Army in Jammu and Kashmir.
(With inputs from agencies)
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