LINE OF CONTROL. PHOTO: FILE
“There has been no firing incident from Pakistan,” Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakria told The Express Tribune hours after the Indian media claimed that Pakistani troops attacked Indian military posts at Uri. “There seems to be some activity across the border but there has been no activity from our side, not one shot was fired from here,” he told Reuters.
Earlier, Indian army spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said there had been a ‘ceasefire violation’ near Uri, where Sunday’s attack took place. Uri is near the LoC which divides the disputed Himalayan state.
“A group of 10 to 12 terrorists attempted to infiltrate the Uri sector. They were intercepted and the infiltration bid was foiled,” he told AFP. A senior army officer told Reuters that Indian forces had killed between eight and 10 members of the group and had set out to retrieve the bodies.
Another army spokesman, Manish Kumar, also claimed that Indian troops foiled an infiltration bid in the Nowgam sector as well.
The accusations came just two days after the Indian military base at Uri was stormed by militants killing at least 18 soldiers. India was quick to lay the blame on Pakistan. The war rhetoric and strong posturing from Delhi triggered fears that the Uri attack might lead to a possible or limited military showdown between the two countries.
However, after initial reaction, Indian officials emphasised that there would be no ‘knee-jerk’ reaction, suggesting that the Modi administration had limited military options.
Indian media quoted unnamed officials as saying that top army commanders advised the Modi administration against going for military operations.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2016.
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