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India Claims ‘Surgical Strikes’ in Pakistani-Controlled Kashmir India Claims ‘Surgical Strikes’ in Pakistani-Controlled Kashmir
(35 minutes later)
NEW DELHI — India announced on Thursday that it had carried out early morning “surgical strikes” on Pakistani-controlled Kashmir, targeting bases and causing “significant casualties to terrorists” who it said were planning attacks on Indian territory.NEW DELHI — India announced on Thursday that it had carried out early morning “surgical strikes” on Pakistani-controlled Kashmir, targeting bases and causing “significant casualties to terrorists” who it said were planning attacks on Indian territory.
Pakistan, however, played down the operation, saying no surgical strike had taken place, only ordinary “cross-border fire initiated by India.”Pakistan, however, played down the operation, saying no surgical strike had taken place, only ordinary “cross-border fire initiated by India.”
In a statement, a Pakistani military spokesman said India’s announcement was a “fabrication” and “an illusion being deliberately generated by India to create false effects.”In a statement, a Pakistani military spokesman said India’s announcement was a “fabrication” and “an illusion being deliberately generated by India to create false effects.”
Two Pakistani soldiers were killed during an exchange of fire that began at 2:30 a.m. and continued until 8 a.m., a Pakistani military spokesman said on Facebook.Two Pakistani soldiers were killed during an exchange of fire that began at 2:30 a.m. and continued until 8 a.m., a Pakistani military spokesman said on Facebook.
“If India tries to do this again, we will respond forcefully,” Pakistan’s defense minister, Khawaja Asif, said in a statement. “India is doing this only to please their media and public.”
Much was unclear about the nature of the Indian operation.Much was unclear about the nature of the Indian operation.
But if India’s infantry or air force did cross the de facto border known as the Line of Control to attack Pakistani positions, it would have broken precedent: Even during the brief conflict in Kargil in 1999, India’s military did not declare that it had crossed the Line of Control, apparently wary that such a step would lead to a dangerous escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbors.But if India’s infantry or air force did cross the de facto border known as the Line of Control to attack Pakistani positions, it would have broken precedent: Even during the brief conflict in Kargil in 1999, India’s military did not declare that it had crossed the Line of Control, apparently wary that such a step would lead to a dangerous escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
The announcement suggested that the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India was less concerned about that risk.The announcement suggested that the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India was less concerned about that risk.
“They think that the escalation ceiling, beyond which Pakistan will be forced to respond, is higher than previously assessed, and therefore they are willing to do more than India has done previously,” said Ashok Malik, a senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, a policy organization based in New Delhi.“They think that the escalation ceiling, beyond which Pakistan will be forced to respond, is higher than previously assessed, and therefore they are willing to do more than India has done previously,” said Ashok Malik, a senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, a policy organization based in New Delhi.
“India was exercising cross-L.O.C. options that were very close to doing nothing,” he said, referring to the de facto border. “It is willing to go a little further.”“India was exercising cross-L.O.C. options that were very close to doing nothing,” he said, referring to the de facto border. “It is willing to go a little further.”
The news sent tremors through Indian markets, with the country’s benchmark stock index, the Sensex, plunging 555 points, or nearly 2 percent.
Shelling was heavy in the Jammu region near the Pakistani border, and villagers took shelter in underground bunkers used during previous violations of the cease-fire along the Line of Control, residents said.
Arun Khajuria, a resident of the Poonch district, said he woke his family at 5:30 a.m. and found many of his neighbors already in the bunker. The shelling ended two hours later, he said.
Indian officials said the move had been a response to two terrorist attacks on Indian positions this month. In the more recent, militants stormed an Indian Army base near the border with Pakistan, killing 18 soldiers.Indian officials said the move had been a response to two terrorist attacks on Indian positions this month. In the more recent, militants stormed an Indian Army base near the border with Pakistan, killing 18 soldiers.
Lt. Gen. Ranbir Singh, the Indian director general of military operations, said on Thursday that Indian forces had prevented 20 infiltration attempts over the course of the year and had recovered supplies, including global positioning systems, that had Pakistani markings.Lt. Gen. Ranbir Singh, the Indian director general of military operations, said on Thursday that Indian forces had prevented 20 infiltration attempts over the course of the year and had recovered supplies, including global positioning systems, that had Pakistani markings.
General Singh said India had received “very credible and specific information” on Wednesday that teams of militants had positioned themselves at bases and were planning attacks on Indian-controlled Kashmir and “in various other metros in our country.”General Singh said India had received “very credible and specific information” on Wednesday that teams of militants had positioned themselves at bases and were planning attacks on Indian-controlled Kashmir and “in various other metros in our country.”
“Significant casualties have been caused to the terrorists and those who are trying to support them,” he said, adding that he had spoken to his Pakistani counterpart on Thursday and “shared with him the operations we had conducted last night.”“Significant casualties have been caused to the terrorists and those who are trying to support them,” he said, adding that he had spoken to his Pakistani counterpart on Thursday and “shared with him the operations we had conducted last night.”