The nation
is rightly outraged at this morning’s Uri Brigade Headquarters terrorist attack
in which, so far, seventeen soldiers have been martyred and many others
critically injured. While the identity of the four terrorist perpetrators, who
have all been killed, has not been established as yet, there is no doubt that they
came from across the border.
The timing of the attack makes it amply clear that it is the work of the official Pakistani agencies, and is designed to coincide with the beginning of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly. It is meant to attract international attention to the situation in the Kashmir valley while avoiding the opprobrium over civilians being killed.
World leaders gather at the start of each session in New York; Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is leading his country’s delegation and has reached the city. Pakistan has already announced that he will raise the Kashmir situation at the UN, and also in his bilateral interactions with his international peers.
Through this attack, Pakistan hopes that he will taken more seriously when he calls on the UN to intervene in Kashmir, both to address what Pakistan claims are human rights violations as well as the dangerous situation that is developing there between India and Pakistan.
- Uri attack designed to coincide with the beginning of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
- Uri attack meant to attract international attention to the situation in the Kashmir valley and at the same time avoid opprobrium over civilian deaths.
- International community recognises the realities of the Kashmir problem and its inextricable linkage with Pakistani-instigated terrorism.
- Indian official responses need to be measured and sober, not shrill and heavy on rhetoric. That will put the pressure on Pakistan.
- PM Modi made a statement of intent that India will act deliberately at a place and time of its choosing.