Former army chief wants India to raise 'suicide squad'

Remarks come after attack on army brigade HQ in India-held Kashmir

Former Indian army chief General Shankar Roychowdhury wants India to raise its own 'fidayeen' or suicide squad following the Uri attack which left 17 soldiers dead.



In an interview to NDTV on Sunday, Roychowdhury said, "Time for India to raise its own fidayeen." The attack has sparked anger from former army personnel with many calling for retaliatory action.

Former Army Chief General Shankar Roy Choudhary on NDTV says "Time For India to raise our own Fidayeen" reflecting depth of rage #UriAttack

— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) September 18, 2016

Former army major Gaurav Arya called for stringent action against Pakistan, which he held responsible for the attack. “Pakistan keeps doing it again and again. We must take immediate action. Downgrade relation with Pakistan. Stop trade. Show the world we are serious,” he said.

The Indian military is determined to turn the heat on Pakistan in the aftermath of Uri attack. It has reportedly resolved to use concentrated artillery barrages and sniping operations in cross border strikes.



The army has also requested the Modi government to consider “limited but punitive” cross-border strikes to send a message to Pakistan, which it holds responsible for the attack. “Yes, there will be retaliation from the other side but it can be dealt with,” TOI reported a source as saying.

Pakistan denies any role in cross-border terrorism, and has called on the United Nations and the international community to investigate atrocities it alleges have been committed by the security forces in Indian-ruled Kashmir.

Relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors have been on edge since a New-Year attack on an Indian air force base in Punjab, near the border with Pakistan, that killed seven uniformed men.