Uri Terrorist Attack: 17 Soldiers Died, Pakistan Blaming India?
At around 8 p.m. EST on September 17, four Pakistan-sponsored terrorists attacked an Indian Army Brigade headquarters at the town of Uri near the Line of Control.
The terrorists are believed to have crossed a canal along the LOC, cut through the fencing and infiltrated into Kashmir. According to latest reports, the unnamed attackers said to have lobbed 17 grenades in three minutes. As a rear administrative base camp with tents caught fire, 17 army personnel were killed and around 30 were reported to have been seriously injured in the attack.
How Indian government is responding
Indian Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh took to his Twitter account to launch a full frontal attack on Pakistan for provoking and training the terrorists who carried out these terror attacks.
In a series of tweets, Mr. Singh stated that after long conversations and peace policies between Pakistan and India, he is deeply disappointed that the neighboring country took such steps to violate all the laws.
Pakistan is a terrorist state and it should be identified and isolated as such.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 18, 2016
“My heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyred soldiers. Those behind this terror incident would be brought to justice,” he added.
Visited the injured Soldiers in Hospital. Given necessary instruction to provide best of medical support to them. pic.twitter.com/ZF3Al3xTnJ
— Manohar Parrikar Memorial (@manoharparrikar) September 18, 2016
What Pakistani media is reporting on these terrorist attacks
Well, editorials in Pakistani media are constantly blaming India for these terrorist attacks, stating that the timing of the attack was suspicious because it coincided with Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif’s arrival at the UN General Assembly to talk about the ongoing issues about Kashmir.
According to Times of India, The News International suggested that the Uri attack was timed in such a way that India could point fingers at Islamabad when Mr. Sharif will talk about Kashmir.
“Assisted by its crafty media, the Indian political and security establishment is notorious for designing bizarre pseudo operations so that it could defame Pakistan in the eyes of the world, muster international support and to cover up its intelligence failures,” the paper further wrote.
On the other hand, Pakistan’s The Express Tribune quoted an unnamed senior military official as stating that India’s retired generals and diplomats were busy pointing fingers at them even when their country was under the scrutiny of attack.
“Therefore, it was a foregone conclusion that India would eventually lay the blame on us [Pakistan].”
Before you sleep tonight, take two minutes to say thanks to these hutatma team.
Imagine their families!#UriAttack pic.twitter.com/BCNydlMNhA— Kiran Kumar S (@KiranKS) September 18, 2016
The Karachi-based Dawn newspaper has reportedly accused India of calling Pakistan a “terrorist state.” The newspaper further reported that New Delhi’s accusation on Islamabad for Uri’s terror attack has “plunged Pak-India relations into a dangerous and unstable new phase.”
What the United Nation has to say on Uri’s Terror Attacks
UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Boris Johnson spoke to the External Affairs Ministry in New Delhi and condemned the terror attack. Mr. Johnson further added that at this time of crisis, the UK stands shoulder to shoulder with India and will help the country of more than 1 billion to eradicate the terrorism.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also condemned the attack in Kashmir. Mr. Ki-moon’s spokesperson stated that the United Nation is taking serious steps against terrorism.
“The United Nations is following developments closely and shares the concerns of people living in the region for peace.”
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemns Uri attack, says 'should identify perpetrators' #IndiaWithForces pic.twitter.com/FsdQWynF18
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) September 19, 2016
John Kirby, assistant secretary for the U.S. State Department, released a statement via his spokesperson in which he addressed the ongoing Kashmir-related fight between these two Asian countries.
“The United States strongly condemns the terrorist attack on an Indian army base in Kashmir during the early morning of September 18. We extend our condolences to the victims and their families. The United States is committed to our strong partnership with the Indian government to combat terrorism.”
This is not for the first time when something like this has happened. Now, India must decide on a consistent course of action towards Pakistan if it is to abate the frequency of cross-border terrorism.
[Featured Image by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images]