Army conducted surgical strikes on seven Pak launch pads which were aiming to attack J-K, metro cities

Lt. Gen. Ranbir Singh, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), on Thursday said that the Indian Army conducted surgical strikes on seven terrorist launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC), which were ready to carry out terrorists strikes in Jammu and Kashmir and various other metros in our country around midnight.

Singh said that the operation of the Indian Army was basically focussed to ensure that the terrorists do not succeed in their design of infiltration and carry out destruction endangering the lives of citizens of the nation.

"Now based on the specific and credible information which we received yesterday that some terrorist team had positioned themselves at launch pads along the Line of Control (LoC) with an aim to carry out infiltration and terrorists strikes in Jammu and Kashmir and various other metros in our country, the Indian army conducted surgical strikes last night at these launch pads," said Singh.

"The operations were basically focussed to ensure that these terrorists do not succeed in their design of infiltration and carrying out destruction and endangering the lives of citizens of our country. During these counter terrorist operations significant casualties have been caused to the terrorist and those who are trying to support them. The operation aimed at neutralising the terrorists have since seized. We do not have any plans for further continuation of the operations. However, the Indian armed forces are fully prepared for any contingency that may arrive," he added.

Singh further said that he spoke with the Pakistani DGMO and expressed New Delhi's concern and meanwhile, shared information over the operation conducted by the Indian Army.

"I have spoken to the Pakistani DGMO and explained our concerns and also shared the operation we had conducted last night. It is India's intention to maintain peace and tranquillity in the region but we can certainly not allow the terrorists to operate across the Line of Control with impunity and attack the citizens of our country," said Singh.

"We expect the Pakistan Army to cooperate with us with a view to erase this menace of terrorism from our region," he added.

Elucidating the involvement of Pakistan in the recent infiltration bids and terrorist strikes the Indian DGMO said that the captured terrorists have confessed that they were trained by the estranged Asian neighbour.

"Captured terrorists hailing from Pakistan or Pakistani occupied Kashmir have confessed to their training and arming in Pakistan or territory under the control of Pakistan. The matter has been taken up at the highest diplomatic levels and the military levels at regular times. India has also offered counsellor access to the apprehended terrorists to Pakistan to verify their confessions," he said.

"Despite our persistent urging that Pakistan respect it's commitment that it made in January 2004 'not to allow its soil or territory under its control be used for terrorism against India. There has been no let up in infiltration or terrorist actions inside our territory. If the damage was limited its has been primarily due to the efforts of the Indian Army who are deployed in multi tier counter infiltration grid. And most of the infiltration bids have been foiled at those locations. The Indian armed forces have been extremely vigilant in the face of continuing threat," he added.

The DGMO also added that India had proposed to Pakistan to make available finger prints and DNA samples of terrorists who have been killed in the Uri and Poonch encounters their investigations.

Meanwhile, Singh also expressed his concern over the continuing and increasing infiltrations by terrorists across the lone of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Almost 20 infiltrations attempt have been foiled by the Indian army successfully this year. During these attacks and infiltration attempts we have recovered items including global positioning systems and stores which have had Pakistani markings," he said.

President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N Vohra, Chief Minister Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti were briefed on the surgical strikes by the Indian Army.