US, Politicians Cutting Across Partylines Condemn Attack on Indian Army Camp

Washington: Shock and condemnation for the attack on Indian army camp, in which 17 soldiers lost their lives, is pouring-in from around the world.

The United States Condemns the Terrorist Attack: The US is committed to build a strong partnership with India to combat terrorism, the White House said on Sunday as it condemned the terror attack on an army camp in Jammu and Kashmir’s Uri town. The United States strongly condemns the terrorist attack on an Indian Army base in Kashmir during the early morning of September 18, the State Department Spokesman John Kirby said in a statement. “We extend our condolences to the victims and their families,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned the “cowardly terror attack” and assured “that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished”. Modi refrained from saying who was to blame for the bloodbath but Rajnath Singh and Arun Jaitley did not mince words. “I am deeply disappointed with Pakistan’s continued and direct support to terrorism. Pakistan is a terrorist state and it should be identified and isolated as such,” Rajnath Singh tweeted. Jaitley added: “It is clear our neighbour is using terror to create menace in our country. Our diplomacy would work in the direction of isolating Pakistan internationally.”

Pakistan’s Denial: Pakistan, meanwhile, refuted as unfounded and premature India’s charge that it was behind the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Uri sector, with its army demanding actionable intelligence to support New Delhi’s accusation. Following the dawn attack, India blamed Pakistan for the latest attack on the Indian Army. Home Minister Rajnath Singh directly attacked Pakistan saying it was a terrorist state and should be isolated. Pakistan army spokesman Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa said that following the attack Director General of Military Operation (DGMO) of the two countries discussed the situation along the Line of Control through hotline. Refuting the unfounded and pre-mature Indian allegation, Pakistani DGMO asked his counterpart to share any actionable intelligence.

Defence Minister Rushes to Srinagar: Meanwhile, an army spokesman said Defence Minister Parrikar and Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag visited the Valley to take stock of the operations and review the overall security situation. They were briefed by Northern Army and Chinar Corps Commanders Lt Gen. DS Hooda and Lt Gen. Satish Dua respectively at Srinagar on the Uri terror attack and the operation launched to neutralise the terrorists, he said. While three of the four heavily-armed terrorists were eliminated within the first 15 minutes of establishing contact, the fourth was neutralised later, the spokesman said.

He said four AK-47 rifles and an equal number of under barrel grenade launchers (UBGLs), along with other war-like stores, were recovered from the slain militants. The minister also visited the injured jawans at the hospital. Parrikar had rushed to Srinagar to take stock of the situation after four suspected Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists struck the administrative base of the army’s 10 Dogra regiment at Uri in Baramulla district. The Defence Minister also visited the 92 Base Hospital of the army where he was briefed about the condition of the injured soldiers who were undergoing treatment there.

Politicians Condemn Attack: Political leaders cutting across party lines condemned the attack on the army camp. Condemning the attack, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said India cannot be cowed down by such incidents. This is a difficult time. The army still has the best means to deal with such situation.

Jammu and Kashmir’s former chief minister Omar Abdullah condemned the terror attack on an army base in Uri and said better facilities including fire retardant tents should be given to the soldiers after it came to light that at least 13 jawans died due to the fire in their tents. “This is a highly condemnable and tragic incident. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyred jawans who have lost their lives and pray for the speedy recovery of those who have sustained injuries in the attack,” Omar said in a statement.

Senior Congress leader Captain Amarinder Singh condemned the terror attack on an Indian army camp in Uri, saying this is an extremely outrageous and provocative act by Pakistan which must be taken up seriously and reciprocated in the same measure. “Perhaps the time has come when we need to make it categorically clear to Pakistan that in 1971 you survived by half and in 2017 you may cease to survive even,” he asserted while calling for strong retaliatory reprisals that should make Pakistan realise that the proxy war it has resorted to against India will be as costly and expensive for it, as the previous four wars and will eventually prove suicidal for it, even threatening its very existence. Leader of the Opposition in Andhra Pradesh assembly and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed shock and condemned the terrorist attacks on the army camp. He offered his condolences to the bereaved family members.

Bollywood Condemns Attack: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, actor Riteish Deshmukh, filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar among others have condemned the terrorist attack in Uri and have offered their condolences to families of soldiers who lost their lives.

“Saddened to hear of the cowardly attack in Uri. Prayers for the families of our martyred soldiers and may the terrorists be punished soon!” Shah Rukh posted on Twitter. Bhandarkar wrote, “Saddened to know about the cowardly militant attack at Uri. My salute to the brave hearts martyred and condolences to the families.” “Deepest condolences to the families of #UriAttack martyrs who laid down their lives fighting for their motherland,” Deshmukh tweeted.