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| Two Pakistani soldiers killed in 'surgical' Indian strikes in Kashmir | |
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| Two Pakistani soldiers have been killed in the contested territory of Kashmir after India launched what it described as “surgical strikes” against “terrorists … waiting to infiltrate the nation”. | Two Pakistani soldiers have been killed in the contested territory of Kashmir after India launched what it described as “surgical strikes” against “terrorists … waiting to infiltrate the nation”. |
| The multiple nighttime strikes across the line of control (LOC) that divides the Himalayan region marked a major escalation of a deepening crisis between the nuclear armed rivals. | The multiple nighttime strikes across the line of control (LOC) that divides the Himalayan region marked a major escalation of a deepening crisis between the nuclear armed rivals. |
| Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, India’s director-general of military operations, said the attacks were against militants preparing to cross the LOC, a ceasefire line agreed in 1972, into Indian-controlled territory and had resulted in “significant casualties … to terrorists and those trying to shield them”. | Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, India’s director-general of military operations, said the attacks were against militants preparing to cross the LOC, a ceasefire line agreed in 1972, into Indian-controlled territory and had resulted in “significant casualties … to terrorists and those trying to shield them”. |
| “There were launchpads across the line of control where terrorists were present waiting to infiltrate the nation and attack areas in Kashmir and metros across the country,” Singh said. | “There were launchpads across the line of control where terrorists were present waiting to infiltrate the nation and attack areas in Kashmir and metros across the country,” Singh said. |
| He said militants captured in the operation had “confessed to their training in Pakistan or in Pakistan-controlled region”. No Indian troops were killed and there were no “plans for further continuation of operations”, he added. | He said militants captured in the operation had “confessed to their training in Pakistan or in Pakistan-controlled region”. No Indian troops were killed and there were no “plans for further continuation of operations”, he added. |
| Quoting army sources, the Indian news agency ANI reported that Indian special forces were parachuted into five sites between 500 metres and 2km across the ceasefire line. The operations reportedly commenced just after midnight and lasted about four hours. | Quoting army sources, the Indian news agency ANI reported that Indian special forces were parachuted into five sites between 500 metres and 2km across the ceasefire line. The operations reportedly commenced just after midnight and lasted about four hours. |
| Pakistan’s army announced the “martyrdom” of two of its soldiers during five and half hours of fighting. “Pakistani troops befittingly responded to Indian unprovoked firing” on four sections of the line of control, an army statement said. | Pakistan’s army announced the “martyrdom” of two of its soldiers during five and half hours of fighting. “Pakistani troops befittingly responded to Indian unprovoked firing” on four sections of the line of control, an army statement said. |
| A statement issued later in the day denied Indian claims its troops had crossed the border into Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. | A statement issued later in the day denied Indian claims its troops had crossed the border into Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. |
| “There has been no surgical strike by India, instead there had been cross-border fire initiated and conducted by India, which is [an] existential phenomenon,” it said. “As per rules of engagement same was strongly and befittingly responded by Pakistani troops.” | “There has been no surgical strike by India, instead there had been cross-border fire initiated and conducted by India, which is [an] existential phenomenon,” it said. “As per rules of engagement same was strongly and befittingly responded by Pakistani troops.” |
| It called the announcement of surgical strikes “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,” the statement said. | It called the announcement of surgical strikes “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,” the statement said. |
| Wednesday’s raids are the first military response to an attack on 18 September by militants on an Indian army outpost in Uri, close to the ceasefire border that divides Kashmir, a Himalayan territory claimed and fought over by both countries since 1947. | Wednesday’s raids are the first military response to an attack on 18 September by militants on an Indian army outpost in Uri, close to the ceasefire border that divides Kashmir, a Himalayan territory claimed and fought over by both countries since 1947. |
| The Uri attack, which India has blamed on Pakistan-sponsored militants, killed 19 soldiers and provoked calls for India to drop its policy of so-called strategic restraint against its neighbour. | The Uri attack, which India has blamed on Pakistan-sponsored militants, killed 19 soldiers and provoked calls for India to drop its policy of so-called strategic restraint against its neighbour. |
| India has launched a diplomatic offensive in the aftermath of the attack, denouncing Pakistan at the UN as the host of the “Ivy League of terrorism” and voicing support for separatists in Balochistan, a restive Pakistani province. | India has launched a diplomatic offensive in the aftermath of the attack, denouncing Pakistan at the UN as the host of the “Ivy League of terrorism” and voicing support for separatists in Balochistan, a restive Pakistani province. |
| Islamabad says India has provided no evidence the attack was the work of Pakistan-based militants or the country’s intelligence agencies, which have long been accused of links to anti-India jihadi groups. | Islamabad says India has provided no evidence the attack was the work of Pakistan-based militants or the country’s intelligence agencies, which have long been accused of links to anti-India jihadi groups. |
| Zahid Hussain, a Pakistani security analyst, described the attacks as a “very serious escalation”. “We have seen firing on the line of control before but this is much more dangerous in the context of the rising tension between the two sides,” he said. “I am not saying that this could lead to a full state confrontation but this is how things start to get out of control.” | Zahid Hussain, a Pakistani security analyst, described the attacks as a “very serious escalation”. “We have seen firing on the line of control before but this is much more dangerous in the context of the rising tension between the two sides,” he said. “I am not saying that this could lead to a full state confrontation but this is how things start to get out of control.” |
| India last announced it had conducted cross-border strikes in June 2015 against rebel camps in Myanmar, in response to an ambush that killed at least 18 Indian soldiers in the north-eastern state of Manipur. The Indian government described the raid as unprecedented at the time and signalled similar tactics could be used along its western border with Pakistan. | India last announced it had conducted cross-border strikes in June 2015 against rebel camps in Myanmar, in response to an ambush that killed at least 18 Indian soldiers in the north-eastern state of Manipur. The Indian government described the raid as unprecedented at the time and signalled similar tactics could be used along its western border with Pakistan. |
| On Wednesday, in a sign of deepening Pakistani isolation in the region, India and three other countries announced they were boycotting the forthcoming South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit, which was scheduled to be held in Islamabad in November. | On Wednesday, in a sign of deepening Pakistani isolation in the region, India and three other countries announced they were boycotting the forthcoming South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit, which was scheduled to be held in Islamabad in November. |
| The Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, has also raised the possibility New Delhi could alter or walk away from a major river-sharing agreement that permits Pakistan to draw water from three rivers that flow downstream from India, providing water to 65% of the country’s landmass. | The Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, has also raised the possibility New Delhi could alter or walk away from a major river-sharing agreement that permits Pakistan to draw water from three rivers that flow downstream from India, providing water to 65% of the country’s landmass. |