India destroys 4 PoK terror camps, inflicts heavy casualties across LoC
Army chief confirms at least 12-20 Pakistani killed, says more damage done
TNN Bureau. Updated: 10/21/2019 9:52:30 AM

JAMMU: In a major counter-offensive after Pakistan's unprovoked firing, the Indian Army on Sunday carried out heavy artillery strikes targeting four terror launch pads and several Pakistani military positions in Neelam Valley in PoK, killing a number of their soldiers and terrorists waiting to infiltrate into India.
“As per the information we have so far, six to ten Pakistan Army personnel and as many terrorists were killed in an artillery firing by the Indian Army opposite the Tangdhar and Keran sectors along the Line of Control,” Army chief General Bipin Rawat confirmed, adding that more damage has been caused and information on exact loss of Pakistan is being obtained. A highly-placed source, meanwhile, said at least 25 terrorists and 15 Pakistani soldiers were killed in the Indian artillery fire, adding the figure may be quite high.
They said 10-15 terrorists were staying in each of the facilities at the time of the attack, the most significant offensive since India carried out the Balakot strike in February.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to the Army Chief following the Indian offensive and he has been keeping an eye on the evolving situation along the LoC, government sources said.
The Indian retaliatory action came following the ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Tanghdar sector, in which two Army jawans and a civilian were killed in the intervening night of Saturday-Sunday.
The retaliation has caused substantial harm to the terrorist infrastructure across the Line of Control (LoC), Rawat told reporters on the sidelines of an event in Delhi this evening.
"We had information that terror camps are operating in PoK in areas opposite Keran, Tangdhar and Nowgam sectors which we call the Leepa valley. These were targeted.
“So far, as per the information available with us, 6-10 Pakistani soldiers have been killed and nearly as many terrorists," the Army Chief said, adding that more information on terrorist casualty was being obtained.
"Three terror camps have been destroyed and on the fourth one also, we have caused severe damage," he said.
“If Pakistan continued with such activities, the Indian Army would not hesitate to retaliate,” the Army chief asserted, adding that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has been briefed about the retaliatory action.
Replying to a question, the Army chief said the terror camps destroyed by the forces were located in Athmuqam, Kundal Shahi and Jura, and the Army had information about a camp in Leepa Valley too.
"So, these are the camps we had information on and these are the camps we have targeted. And people who were supporting them, also the Pakistani posts, bore the brunt of our retaliatory action as well," he said.
He said of late, the Army had received information that terrorists were coming closer to the camps in the forward areas.
In the last one month, repeated infiltration attempts were made from the Gurez, Keran, Machil, Uri sectors and south of Pir Panjal, he said, adding that Pakistani soldiers were resorting to ceasefire violation to provide support to the infiltration bids by terrorists.
"The festival season is approaching, Diwali is round the corner, we had picked up a definitive signal that some of the terror camps north of Pir Panjal were active. Terrorists had arrived at these camps and that they were likely to infiltrate.
"Last evening, an attempt was made in Tangdhar to infiltrate...where we retaliated...Pakistan, at the same time, carried out some firing on the post, in which we did suffer. Two of our soldiers got killed and one civilian also died," Gen. Rawat said.
"All this (firing) was done to ensure that they can push in the terrorists," he said.
Gen. Rawat said terror camps across the border were targeted as the Army had definitive information.
"Before they could attempt the infiltration, it was decided that we target the terror camps. We had definitive information and coordinates of these camps and in the retaliatory action that our forces have taken, we have caused severe damage to the terror infrastructure across (the LoC)," the Army chief said.
The terror camps opposite the Tangdhar and Keran sectors were destroyed, he added.
Lashing out at Pakistan, Gen. Rawat said the other side was desperate as the first snow had fallen and advised the neighbouring country to "not perpetrate terror in the territory" on the Indian side.
"Three days ago, we had foiled an infiltration bid in the Machil sector and recovered a rucksack and other equipment," he said.
On the artillery action, the Army chief said as of now, there was a kind of "radio silence" on the other side and "we are not even able to pick up any mobile communication from across (the LoC), which implies that there have been casualty, damage, which the Pakistan Army does not want to highlight".
"They do not want to highlight or project this damage as the world will know that no action had been taken (by them) to curtain the acts of terrorism from across the border. They are trying to keep it under the wraps. But, definitely, as and when we get it, we will provide you with more evidence," he said.
On the situation in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave a special status to the state, the Army chief said while Indian forces were trying to restore normalcy in the Valley, attempts were being made from elements across the border to disrupt peace.
"Ever since the abrogation of special provisions (for Jammu and Kashmir), we are getting repeated inputs about infiltration by terrorists from across the border," he added.
"Gradually, things are returning to normal in the valley, but obviously somebody is working behind the scenes, at the behest of terrorists and agencies, some within and some outside Pakistan and PoK, to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere," he said.
Asked if Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was briefed by him on the Tangdhar incident, the Army chief answered in the affirmative. "He (Singh) has been briefed regularly," he said.
"The defence minister has regularly been in contact with me on this issue," Gen. Rawat said.
"As I said earlier, the political leadership and the military are working in close coordination and that is continuing.
"The political leadership is fully backing us on countering terror in whatever way and no restriction has been put. The mutual consultation goes on regularly," he added.


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