All you need to know about India's surgical strike, Pakistan's response

Eleven days after the terror strike by Pakistan-based terror outfit JeM on an Indian army camp in Uri in Kashmir, India on Thursday carried out surgical strikes targeting 'launch pads' for terrorists across the Line of Control (LoC).

According to India's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), India conducted "surgical strikes" to inflict heavy damage on terrorists gathered at their launch pads behind the LoC. "Significant casualties have been caused to terrorists and those trying to shield them. We don't have a plan to further conduct such strikes," DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh said.

"… Now, based on very specific and credible information we received yesterday, that some terrorist teams had positioned themeselves at launch pads along the LoC with an aim to carry out infiltration and terrorist strikes in J&K and various other metros in our country. There were launch pads at the LoC where terrorists were present waiting to infiltrate the nation and attack areas in Kashmir and metros across the country," the DGMO said.

Hours after Lt General Ranbir Singh in a joint press conference confirmed the strike, Pakistan Army's media wing, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the Indian claims were false. However, it accepted that two of its soldiers got martyrdom while responding to India's "unprovoked" firing. "Pakistani troops befittingly responded to Indian unprovoked firing" on four sections of the line of control, a Pakistan army statement said.

Highlights Of The Surgical Operation

 

• Operation begins around 12.30 am on Wednesday and lasted for 4 hours. Paratroopers from Special Forces were airdropped at the LoC, from where they crossed over to the Pakistani side.
• Indian commandos entered three kilometres across the Line of Control and conducted the 'surgical strikes'in Bhimber, Hotspring, Kel & Lipa sectors. The location was 500 meters-2 Km across LoC
• 38 terrorists and 2 Pakistani soldiers were killed in Indian Army surgical strikes, no Indian casualties. Those killed included terrorists, their guides and handlers.
• 7 terror launch pads were destroyed during the surgical strike which ended at 4:30 AM.  
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally monitored the cross-LoC strike by the Indian Army on Wednesday night and approved it as India wanted to "turn off the tap of infiltration at its root" in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK).
• The entire operation was monitored for the entire night by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval from the Army headquarters in New Delhi.
• After surgical strike, India's Home Minister Rajnath Singh has asked Punjab govt to evacuate villages falling within ten kilometres of the International border in view of the escalating situation.
• An all party meeting to discuss the Indian Army surgical strike is underway in North Block. Senior leaders, including Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and NSA Ajit Doval, are present at the meeting.

What is a surgical strike?
 
A military operation to neutralise the targets with the aim of minimum collateral damage to the nearby areas and civilians is a surgical strike. Neutralisation of targets with surgical strikes prevents escalation to a full blown war. Surgical strikes attacks can be carried out via air raids, airdropping special operation teams or a ground operation. All three Indian armed forces have their separate special operation teams.

 

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemns
 
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif strongly condemns the ''unprovoked and naked aggression of Indian forces resulting in martyrdom of two Pakistani soldiers along the LOC''. He further said, ''our intent for peaceful neighbourhood should not be mistaken as our weakness as our valiant forces are fully capable of defending the territorial integrity of country and can thwart any evil design made to undermine the sovereignty of Paksitan."

BJP president Amit Shah responds

BJP president Amit Shah said surgical strikes signal the rise of a new India where the government doesn't get cowed down by nefarious designs of terrorists. "Today's strikes signal the rise of a new India where the GoI doesn't get cowed down by nefarious designs of terrorists," Shah tweeted.