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According to a government source close to Home Minister ], a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security was held on 24 September, at which "broad details of targeting terrorists" were discussed. The specific details of the planned military raid were restricted to Prime Minister Modi, National Security Advisor ], Defence Minister ] and the Chief of the Army Staff, General Dalbir Singh.<ref name="sealed">{{cite news|title=Surgical Strike was sealed, delivered, kept under wraps until CCS meet |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/surgical-strike-was-sealed-delivered-kept-under-wraps-until-ccs-meet-3059052/|work=The Indian Express|date=1 October 2016|accessdate=1 October 2016|first=|last=}}</ref> According to a government source close to Home Minister ], a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security was held on 24 September, at which "broad details of targeting terrorists" were discussed. The specific details of the planned military raid were restricted to Prime Minister Modi, National Security Advisor ], Defence Minister ] and the Chief of the Army Staff, General Dalbir Singh.<ref name="sealed">{{cite news|title=Surgical Strike was sealed, delivered, kept under wraps until CCS meet |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/surgical-strike-was-sealed-delivered-kept-under-wraps-until-ccs-meet-3059052/|work=The Indian Express|date=1 October 2016|accessdate=1 October 2016|first=|last=}}</ref>


==Timeline==
=="Surgical strike" claim==
On 21 September 2016, the Indian publication ''The Quint'' published an unconfirmed report that elite soldiers of the Indian Army had crossed the LoC and conducted a raid earlier that day.<ref>* Chandan Nandy, , The Quint, 21 September 2016.
</ref> However, the claim was dismissed as a "disinformation campaign" circulating as part of war rhetoric on social media, and the Indian army rejected the report.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2016/09/22/in-war-season-beware-of-disinformation-campaigns/|title=In War Season, Beware Of Disinformation Campaigns|work=Huffington Post|date=22 September 2016|accessdate=2 October 2016}}</ref> The Quint supports its claim by pointing out that
PIA had cancelled flights scheduled to land in Gilgit, Skardu & Chitral on 21 September,<ref>
, The Express Tribune, 21 September 2016.
</ref><ref>
, The Quint, 22 September 2016.
</ref> and claims that Pakistan had also declared a no-fly zone over Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.<ref></ref>


===29 September===
Later on 29 September, eleven days after the Uri attack, the ] said it had conducted "surgical strikes" against suspected militants in ]. Indian Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen Ranbir Singh said that it had received "very credible and specific information" about "terrorist teams" who were preparing to "carry out infiltration and conduct terrorist strikes inside Jammu and Kashmir and in various metros in other states". The Indian action was meant to pre-empt their infiltration.<ref name=BBC2>
India claims to have made "surgical strikes" against militant bases in Pakistani-held territory on September 29. It claims to have killed 9 Pakistani soldiers and upto 50 militants. Pakistan says no such strikes occurred; instead that Indian soldiers fired upon Pakistani soldiers, who then fired back. Pakistan claims two of its soldiers were killed, 8-14 Indian soldiers were killed, and one Indian soldier was captured. India acknowledges that one of its soldiers was captured, but says that none were killed.

====Indian version====
Indian officials said the strike targeted areas close to the Line of Control, where it believes militants congregate for their final briefings before sneaking across the LoC. An Indian security source said the operation began with Indian forces firing artillery across the frontier to provide cover for three to four teams of 70-80 commandos from 4 and 9 ] to cross the LoC over at several separate points shortly after midnight IST on 29 September (1830 hours UTC 28 Sep). Teams from 4 Para SF crossed the LoC in the Nowgam sector of ], with teams from 9 Para SF simultaneously crossing the LoC in ].<ref name="says_hits"/><ref name="inside_strike">{{cite news|title=Inside the strike: Choppers on standby, 70-80 soldiers|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/surgical-strikes-india-pakistan-loc-jammu-and-kashmir-indian-army-3059059/|accessdate=1 October 2016|work=The Indian Express|agency=|date=1 October 2016|location=}}</ref> By 2 a.m. IST, according to army sources, the special forces teams had travelled 1–3&nbsp;km on foot, and had begun destroying the terrorist bases with hand-held grenade and 84&nbsp;mm rocket launchers. The teams then swiftly returned to the Indian side of the Line of Control, suffering only one casualty, a soldier wounded after tripping a land mine.<ref name="inside_strike"/>

Indian army said the strike was a ] attack to neutralize militants in PoK, about whom the army had received "very credible and specific information".<ref name=BBC2>
{{cite web|title=Kashmir attack: India 'launches strikes against militants'|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37504308|website=BBC News|accessdate=30 September 2016|date=29 September 2016}} {{cite web|title=Kashmir attack: India 'launches strikes against militants'|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37504308|website=BBC News|accessdate=30 September 2016|date=29 September 2016}}
</ref><ref name=NYT> </ref><ref name=NYT>
{{citation |author1=Ellen Barry |author2=Salman Masood |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/30/world/asia/kashmir-india-pakistan.html?_r=0 |title=India Claims ‘Surgical Strikes’ in Pakistani-Controlled Kashmir |newspaper=The New York Times |date=29 September 2016 |accessdate=1 October 2016}} {{citation |author1=Ellen Barry |author2=Salman Masood |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/30/world/asia/kashmir-india-pakistan.html?_r=0 |title=India Claims ‘Surgical Strikes’ in Pakistani-Controlled Kashmir |newspaper=The New York Times |date=29 September 2016 |accessdate=1 October 2016}}
</ref> India presented its operation as preemptive self-defence against terrorism, striking against terrorist infrastructure along with "those who are trying to support them", which according to one Indian columnist's opinion included Pakistani soldiers or the elements of Pakistani state.<ref name=Panda> </ref> India said that, in destroying "terrorist infrastructure" it also attacked "those who are trying to support them", indicating it attacked Pakistani soldiers too.<ref name=Panda>
{{citation |author=Ankit Panda |url=http://thediplomat.com/2016/09/indian-forces-cross-line-of-control-to-carry-out-surgical-strikes-first-takeaways/ |title=Indian Forces Cross Line of Control to Carry Out 'Surgical Strikes': First Takeaways |newspaper=The Diplomat |date=29 September 2016 |accessdate=1 October 2016}} {{citation |author=Ankit Panda |url=http://thediplomat.com/2016/09/indian-forces-cross-line-of-control-to-carry-out-surgical-strikes-first-takeaways/ |title=Indian Forces Cross Line of Control to Carry Out 'Surgical Strikes': First Takeaways |newspaper=The Diplomat |date=29 September 2016 |accessdate=1 October 2016}}
</ref> India later briefed opposition parties and foreign envoys, but did not disclose operational details.<ref name="says_hits">{{cite news|title=India says hits Pakistan-based militants, escalating tensions|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-india-kashmir-idUSKCN11Z0IJ|accessdate=30 September 2016|work=|agency=Reuters|date=30 September 2016|location=}}</ref>
</ref>


Ranbir Singh said that his Pakistani counterpart had been informed.<ref name="says_hits"/> The Pakistani military said the DGMO communications only discussed the cross-border firing, which was part of the existing ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/29/india-says-raid-across-loc-hit-pakistan-based-militants-pakistan-denies-raid-occured.html|title=India says raid across LOC hit Pakistan-based militants; Pakistan denies raid occured|work=CNBC|date=29 September 2016|accessdate=2 October 2016}}</ref> Some Indian media claimed that the Indian army infiltrated 2–3&nbsp;km into Pakistani territory,<ref name="SSA2"/> but the Indian army did not say whether its troops crossed the border or had simply fired across it.<ref name=BBC2/> India said that none of its soldiers were killed, though one was injured. India said that one of its soldiers, from 37 ], was captured by Pakistan after he "inadvertently crossed over to the Pakistan side"<ref name="NDTV">{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/army-denies-pak-media-claims-says-soldier-inadvertently-crossed-loc-1468244|title=Indian Army Says Soldier In Pak Custody Was Not Captured During Surgical Strikes|date=30 September 2016|work=NDTV.com|accessdate=30 September 2016}}</ref>


Initially, Indian media claimed that the army used helicopters during the skirmish. On September 30, an Indian minister denied that there were any helicopters used.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/rathore-rules-out-use-of-copters-aerial-strikes/article9165152.ece|title=Rathore rules out use of copters, aerial strikes|work=The Hindu|accessdate=2 October 2016|date=30 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1191350/backtracking-india-says-no-helicopters-used-surgical-strikes/|title=Backtracking: India says no helicopters used in 'surgical strikes'|work=Express Tribune|date=30 September 2016|accessdate=2 October 2016}}</ref>
Pakistan denied that any surgical strikes occurred. Pakistan's ] rejected the claim as "baseless" and said India was "deliberately" escalating conflict.<ref name="CNN"/> The ], the media organisation of the ], said that there had only been "cross border firing".<ref name=Panda/> Pakistan warned that it would respond militarily should any surgical strike actually occur.<ref name="SSA2"/> Pakistan Prime Minister ] condemned the "unprovoked and naked aggression of Indian forces", which he said resulted in the death of two Pakistani soldiers.<ref name=WP>

====Pakistani version====
Pakistan denied that any surgical strikes occurred. Pakistan's ] rejected the claim as "baseless" and said India was "deliberately" escalating conflict.<ref name="CNN"/> ] said that there had only been "cross border firing".<ref name=Panda/> Pakistan warned that it would respond militarily should any surgical strike actually occur.<ref name="SSA2"/> Pakistan Prime Minister ] condemned the "unprovoked and naked aggression of Indian forces", which he said resulted in the death of two Pakistani soldiers.<ref name=WP>
{{citation |author1=Annie Gowen |author2=Shaiq Hussain |title=India claims ‘surgical strikes’ against militants in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/india-hits-militant-launchpads-in-pakistan-in-escalation-between-nuclear-armed-rivals/2016/09/29/e0145168-d97e-4149-977a-24d08b16ea0b_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=29 September 2016 |accessdate=1 October 2016}} {{citation |author1=Annie Gowen |author2=Shaiq Hussain |title=India claims ‘surgical strikes’ against militants in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/india-hits-militant-launchpads-in-pakistan-in-escalation-between-nuclear-armed-rivals/2016/09/29/e0145168-d97e-4149-977a-24d08b16ea0b_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=29 September 2016 |accessdate=1 October 2016}}
</ref> The two soldiers killed were identified as Naik Imtiaz and ] Jumma Khan.<ref name="CNN">{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/30/asia/kashmir-tensions-pakistan-capture-indian-soldier/index.html|title=Pakistan captures Indian soldier in Kashmir|first=Juliet Perry|last=CNN|work=cnn.com}}</ref> </ref> The two soldiers killed were identified as Naik Imtiaz and ] Jumma Khan.<ref name="CNN">{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/30/asia/kashmir-tensions-pakistan-capture-indian-soldier/index.html|title=Pakistan captures Indian soldier in Kashmir|first=Juliet Perry|last=CNN|work=cnn.com}}</ref>


Pakistani sources reported that up to fourteen Indian soldiers were killed in retaliatory firing and one was captured, Chandu Bablulal Chohan.<ref name="Haider2">{{cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1286910/|title=Pakistan captures one Indian soldier, eight killed at LoC overnight|work=Dawn|first=Abrar|last=Haider|date=29 September 2016|accessdate=29 September 2016}}</ref> Pakistan said India was concealing its casualty figures from the cross-border firing.<ref name="ET3"/>
UN Secretary General ] said that the ] in Pakistani Kashmir did not directly observe any "firing across the Line of Control" relating to the incident.<ref name=UN>, Hindustan Times, 1 October 2016.
</ref><ref name=observe>
, The Indian Express, 2 October 2016.
</ref> The Indian envoy at UN ] dismissed this statement, saying "facts on the ground do not change whether somebody acknowledges or not."<ref name=observe/>

On 30 September, Indian minister for information and broadcasting ] said "there were no aerial strikes" and that the operation was conducted "on the ground".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/rathore-rules-out-use-of-copters-aerial-strikes/article9165152.ece|title=Rathore rules out use of copters, aerial strikes|work=The Hindu|accessdate=2 October 2016|date=30 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1191350/backtracking-india-says-no-helicopters-used-surgical-strikes/|title=Backtracking: India says no helicopters used in 'surgical strikes'|work=Express Tribune|date=30 September 2016|accessdate=2 October 2016}}</ref>

==Timeline==

===29 September===
Indian officials said the strike targeted areas close to the Line of Control, where it believes militants congregate for their final briefings before sneaking across the LoC. An Indian security source said the operation began with Indian forces firing artillery across the frontier to provide cover for three to four teams of 70-80 commandos from 4 and 9 ] to cross the LoC over at several separate points shortly after midnight IST on 29 September (1830 hours UTC 28 Sep). Teams from 4 Para SF crossed the LoC in the Nowgam sector of ], with teams from 9 Para SF simultaneously crossing the LoC in ].<ref name="says_hits"/><ref name="inside_strike">{{cite news|title=Inside the strike: Choppers on standby, 70-80 soldiers|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/surgical-strikes-india-pakistan-loc-jammu-and-kashmir-indian-army-3059059/|accessdate=1 October 2016|work=The Indian Express|agency=|date=1 October 2016|location=}}</ref> By 2 a.m. IST, according to army sources, the special forces teams had travelled 1–3&nbsp;km on foot, and had begun destroying the terrorist bases with hand-held grenade and 84&nbsp;mm rocket launchers. The teams then swiftly returned to the Indian side of the Line of Control, suffering only one casualty, a soldier wounded after tripping a land mine.<ref name="inside_strike"/>

Lieutenant-General Ranbir Singh said the surgical strikes had been based upon "specific and credible information that some terrorist units had positioned themselves ... with an aim to carry out infiltration and terrorist strikes". India later briefed opposition parties and foreign envoys, but did not disclose operational details.<ref name="says_hits">{{cite news|title=India says hits Pakistan-based militants, escalating tensions|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-india-kashmir-idUSKCN11Z0IJ|accessdate=30 September 2016|work=|agency=Reuters|date=30 September 2016|location=}}</ref>

Some Indian media claimed that the Indian army infiltrated 2–3&nbsp;km into Pakistani territory,<ref name="SSA2"/> but the Indian army did not say whether its troops crossed the border or had simply fired across it.<ref name=BBC2/> Later, Pakistani sources reported that up to fourteen Indian soldiers were killed in retaliatory firing and one was captured, Chandu Bablulal Chohan.<ref name="Haider2">{{cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1286910/|title=Pakistan captures one Indian soldier, eight killed at LoC overnight|work=Dawn|first=Abrar|last=Haider|date=29 September 2016|accessdate=29 September 2016}}</ref> An Indian Army source confirmed the capture of a soldier from 37 ], but claimed he had "inadvertently crossed over to the Pakistan side which is not unusual on either side." He also declined reports by the Pakistani media about the killing of Indian soldiers in retaliatory firing, stating: "As regards the report of killing of eight Indian Army personnel reported in sections of Pakistan media, the report is completely false and baseless".<ref name="Haider2"/><ref name="NDTV">{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/army-denies-pak-media-claims-says-soldier-inadvertently-crossed-loc-1468244|title=Indian Army Says Soldier In Pak Custody Was Not Captured During Surgical Strikes|date=30 September 2016|work=NDTV.com|accessdate=30 September 2016}}</ref> Pakistan said India was concealing its casualty figures from the cross-border firing.<ref name="ET3"/>


===30 September–4 October=== ===30 September–4 October===
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On 1 October, Pakistan said its soldiers had come under fire in ] and they responded to the attack. Indian media stated that Pakistan had started the firing.<ref>{{cite news|title=India-Pakistan Conflict Live Update: Gunfire Exchange Continues Across LoC, Nuclear-Armed Nations Accuse Each Other Of Provocation|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/india-pakistan-conflict-live-update-gunfire-exchange-continues-across-loc-nuclear-2424893}}</ref> On 4 October, the Indian ] said it witnessed Pakistani-operated ]s (UAVs) flying close to the border, presumably to survey Indian positions.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Unmanned-aerial-vehicles-seen-close-to-India-Pak-border-BSF/articleshow/54676999.cms|title=Unmanned aerial vehicles seen close to India-Pak border: BSF|work=Times of India|date=4 October 2016|accessdate=4 October 2016}}</ref> On 1 October, Pakistan said its soldiers had come under fire in ] and they responded to the attack. Indian media stated that Pakistan had started the firing.<ref>{{cite news|title=India-Pakistan Conflict Live Update: Gunfire Exchange Continues Across LoC, Nuclear-Armed Nations Accuse Each Other Of Provocation|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/india-pakistan-conflict-live-update-gunfire-exchange-continues-across-loc-nuclear-2424893}}</ref> On 4 October, the Indian ] said it witnessed Pakistani-operated ]s (UAVs) flying close to the border, presumably to survey Indian positions.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Unmanned-aerial-vehicles-seen-close-to-India-Pak-border-BSF/articleshow/54676999.cms|title=Unmanned aerial vehicles seen close to India-Pak border: BSF|work=Times of India|date=4 October 2016|accessdate=4 October 2016}}</ref>

=="Surgical strike" claim==
The Indian army said that its Pakistani counterpart had been informed of the surgical strike.<ref name="says_hits"/> The Pakistani military said the DGMO communications only discussed the cross-border firing, which was part of the existing ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/29/india-says-raid-across-loc-hit-pakistan-based-militants-pakistan-denies-raid-occured.html|title=India says raid across LOC hit Pakistan-based militants; Pakistan denies raid occured|work=CNBC|date=29 September 2016|accessdate=2 October 2016}}</ref>

UN Secretary General ] said that the ] in Pakistani Kashmir did not directly observe any "firing across the Line of Control" relating to the incident.<ref name=UN>, Hindustan Times, 1 October 2016.
</ref><ref name=observe>
, The Indian Express, 2 October 2016.
</ref> The Indian envoy at UN ] dismissed this statement, saying "facts on the ground do not change whether somebody acknowledges or not."<ref name=observe/>

On 21 September 2016, the Indian publication ''The Quint'' published an unconfirmed report that elite soldiers of the Indian Army had crossed the LoC and conducted a raid earlier that day.<ref>* Chandan Nandy, , The Quint, 21 September 2016.
</ref> However, the claim was dismissed as a "disinformation campaign" circulating as part of war rhetoric on social media, and the Indian army rejected the report.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2016/09/22/in-war-season-beware-of-disinformation-campaigns/|title=In War Season, Beware Of Disinformation Campaigns|work=Huffington Post|date=22 September 2016|accessdate=2 October 2016}}</ref> The Quint supports its claim by pointing out that
PIA had cancelled flights scheduled to land in Gilgit, Skardu & Chitral on 21 September,<ref>
, The Express Tribune, 21 September 2016.
</ref><ref>
, The Quint, 22 September 2016.
</ref> and claims that Pakistan had also declared a no-fly zone over Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.<ref></ref>


==Aftermath== ==Aftermath==

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2016 India–Pakistan military confrontation
Part of Indo-Pakistani conflicts
and Kashmir conflict

The Map of Line of Control
Date28 September 2016 UTC - present (ongoing)
LocationLine of Control
Status
  • India claims a successful "surgical strike" on Pakistani-held territory that destroyed alleged bases of militant groups
  • Pakistan claims India neither made such a strike nor entered Pakistani territory; instead claims India fired on its soldiers and its soldiers fired back
Belligerents

 India

 Pakistan

Lashkar-e-Taiba (claimed by India)

Jaish-e-Mohammed (claimed by India)
Commanders and leaders
Pranab Mukherjee
(President of India)
Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag
(Chief of Army Staff)
Lt.Gen. Ranbir Singh
(Director-General of Military Operations)
Lt.Gen. D. S. Hooda
(GOC-in-C, Northern Command)
India Manohar Parrikar
(Minister of Defence)
Mamnoon Hussain
(President of Pakistan)
Gen. Raheel Sharif
(Chief of Army Staff)
Lt.Gen. Malik Zafar Iqbal
(X Corps Commander)
Pakistan Khawaja Muhammad Asif
(Minister of Defence)
Unknown
Units involved

IA Northern Command
File:ParasIndia.JPG Parachute Regiment (India)

X Corps Unknown
Casualties and losses

1-2 soldiers wounded (Indian claim)

8-14 soldiers killed, 1 soldier captured (Pakistani claim)

2 soldiers killed, 9 wounded (Pakistani claim)

9 soldiers killed (Indian claim)

35-70 militants killed (Indian claim)

No casualties (Pakistani claim)
Indo-Pakistani conflicts
Kashmir conflict

Other conflicts

Border skirmishes

Strikes

On 29 September, a military confrontation between India and Pakistan began. India claimed that it had conducted "surgical strikes" against militant bases along the Line of Control border in Pakistani-administered Azad Kashmir, and inflicted "significant casualties". Indian media reported the casualty figures variously, from 35 to 50.

Pakistan rejected this claim as "baseless", stating that Indian troops had not crossed the Line of Control but had only engaged in border skirmishing with Pakistani troops, resulting in the deaths of two Pakistani soldiers and wounding 9. Pakistan rejected India's reports of any other casualties. The Pakistani military also said it killed up to 8 Indian soldiers in the exchange, and captured one. India confirmed that one of its soldiers had been captured, but denied that any had been killed. Pakistan said India was hiding its casualties.

It was noted that the details regarding the "attack" were still unclear. The claimed raid came after four militants attacked the Indian army at Uri, on September 18, and killed 19 soldiers. India's announcement of the claimed raid also marked the first time India had publicly acknowledged crossing the Line of Control, amidst skepticism and disputing accounts. On 1 October, India and Pakistan exchanged fire along the border in Kashmir.

Background

From July 2016, there had been large-scale protests in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir against the Indian government, during which more than 80 civilians were killed by Indian forces. Pakistan criticised India's use of force against Kashmiris, while India accused Pakistan of stirring up tensions.

On 18 September, 17 Indian Army soldiers were killed when unknown militants attacked an army base near the town of Uri, in Jammu and Kashmir. Two more soldiers later succumbed to their wounds. India accused Jaish-e-Muhammad, though no group claimed responsibility. The following day, the Indian army warned it would respond to the attack "at the time and place of our own choosing.”.

Indian accused Pakistan of lack of action against Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad. Pakistan said India had not provided any evidence that the Uri attack was launched from Pakistan. Pakistan accused India of using the Uri attack to deflect attention from the popular anti-India protests in Jammu and Kashmir. Indian officials said that the cross-border infiltration across the Line of Control had surged since the unrest began in Kashmir, and that those crossing the border showed evidence of military training.

According to a government source close to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security was held on 24 September, at which "broad details of targeting terrorists" were discussed. The specific details of the planned military raid were restricted to Prime Minister Modi, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and the Chief of the Army Staff, General Dalbir Singh.

Timeline

29 September

India claims to have made "surgical strikes" against militant bases in Pakistani-held territory on September 29. It claims to have killed 9 Pakistani soldiers and upto 50 militants. Pakistan says no such strikes occurred; instead that Indian soldiers fired upon Pakistani soldiers, who then fired back. Pakistan claims two of its soldiers were killed, 8-14 Indian soldiers were killed, and one Indian soldier was captured. India acknowledges that one of its soldiers was captured, but says that none were killed.

Indian version

Indian officials said the strike targeted areas close to the Line of Control, where it believes militants congregate for their final briefings before sneaking across the LoC. An Indian security source said the operation began with Indian forces firing artillery across the frontier to provide cover for three to four teams of 70-80 commandos from 4 and 9 Para (Special Forces) to cross the LoC over at several separate points shortly after midnight IST on 29 September (1830 hours UTC 28 Sep). Teams from 4 Para SF crossed the LoC in the Nowgam sector of Kupwara district, with teams from 9 Para SF simultaneously crossing the LoC in Poonch district. By 2 a.m. IST, according to army sources, the special forces teams had travelled 1–3 km on foot, and had begun destroying the terrorist bases with hand-held grenade and 84 mm rocket launchers. The teams then swiftly returned to the Indian side of the Line of Control, suffering only one casualty, a soldier wounded after tripping a land mine.

Indian army said the strike was a pre-emptive attack to neutralize militants in PoK, about whom the army had received "very credible and specific information". India said that, in destroying "terrorist infrastructure" it also attacked "those who are trying to support them", indicating it attacked Pakistani soldiers too. India later briefed opposition parties and foreign envoys, but did not disclose operational details.

Some Indian media claimed that the Indian army infiltrated 2–3 km into Pakistani territory, but the Indian army did not say whether its troops crossed the border or had simply fired across it. India said that none of its soldiers were killed, though one was injured. India said that one of its soldiers, from 37 Rashtriya Rifles, was captured by Pakistan after he "inadvertently crossed over to the Pakistan side"

Initially, Indian media claimed that the army used helicopters during the skirmish. On September 30, an Indian minister denied that there were any helicopters used.

Pakistani version

Pakistan denied that any surgical strikes occurred. Pakistan's Foreign Office rejected the claim as "baseless" and said India was "deliberately" escalating conflict. Pakistan Armed Forces said that there had only been "cross border firing". Pakistan warned that it would respond militarily should any surgical strike actually occur. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the "unprovoked and naked aggression of Indian forces", which he said resulted in the death of two Pakistani soldiers. The two soldiers killed were identified as Naik Imtiaz and Havildar Jumma Khan.

Pakistani sources reported that up to fourteen Indian soldiers were killed in retaliatory firing and one was captured, Chandu Bablulal Chohan. Pakistan said India was concealing its casualty figures from the cross-border firing.

30 September–4 October

India and Pakistan increased their exchanges of small arms and mortar fire across the Line of Control.

On 1 October, Pakistan said its soldiers had come under fire in Bhimber and they responded to the attack. Indian media stated that Pakistan had started the firing. On 4 October, the Indian Border Security Force said it witnessed Pakistani-operated unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) flying close to the border, presumably to survey Indian positions.

"Surgical strike" claim

The Indian army said that its Pakistani counterpart had been informed of the surgical strike. The Pakistani military said the DGMO communications only discussed the cross-border firing, which was part of the existing rules of engagement.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said that the UN Observer Group in Pakistani Kashmir did not directly observe any "firing across the Line of Control" relating to the incident. The Indian envoy at UN Syed Akbaruddin dismissed this statement, saying "facts on the ground do not change whether somebody acknowledges or not."

On 21 September 2016, the Indian publication The Quint published an unconfirmed report that elite soldiers of the Indian Army had crossed the LoC and conducted a raid earlier that day. However, the claim was dismissed as a "disinformation campaign" circulating as part of war rhetoric on social media, and the Indian army rejected the report. The Quint supports its claim by pointing out that PIA had cancelled flights scheduled to land in Gilgit, Skardu & Chitral on 21 September, and claims that Pakistan had also declared a no-fly zone over Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.

Aftermath

Indian intelligence sources claimed that, immediately after the raid, the Pakistan military had buried the corpses of the slain terrorists to erase any evidence and to maintain Pakistan's version of a "skirmish" along the Line of Control. However, Pakistan rejected that any such casualties occurred, questioning: "Where did all the dead bodies go? Where were the funerals? Why haven't the Indians produced any dead bodies if they took them back?". Pakistan's military also pointed to the lack of damage or losses in the site, and welcomed UN observers and journalists to conduct an independent inquiry. Increased firing along the Line of Control was reported the following day.

A senior Indian Home Ministry official subsequently claimed that in the wake of the raid, at least 12 training camps belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammad had been swiftly moved from their locations at Pir Chanasi, Aksha Maskar and Tabuk near Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Based on satellite images, inputs from foreign intelligence agencies and unnamed "sources in Pakistan," according to the official, the training camps had been relocated "near crowded towns deep inside Pakistan," in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, to "minimise casualties to their assets." According to the Indian official, the camps had housed around 500 militants, 300 of whom belonged to Lashkar-e-Taiba alone.

Analysis

Defence experts in Pakistan explained it was not possible for Indian forces to breach the heavily armed and fenced LoC border undetected, perform operations at multiple sites over several hours, and return without casualties and military resistance. According to one source, the Indian narrative matched a "fantastic movie script" created for public consumption. Ejaz Awan dismissed Indian claims of paratrooper involvement, stating: "For pulling out these troops, you need helicopters on the ground." Shawn Snow in The Diplomat questioned the capability of Indian forces to conduct a sophisticated and coordinated attack of such nature. He noted that a cross-border raid was "exceedingly difficult" as Pakistan had highly equipped air defence systems installed along the Indian border, including surface to air missiles.

On October 1, the Pakistani army gave international media outlets including BBC, CNN, VOA, Reuters, AP, AFP and Newsweek a tour of the sites which India claimed to have hit on 29 September. The Pakistan army claimed that had there been a "surgical strike", there would have been more damage. The journalists confirmed that the "area seemed intact", adding that they only saw what the Pakistani army showed them.

Noted South Asia and counter-terrorism analyst Bruce Riedel stated that while India's "surgical military response" was "limited and calibrated," it would send a sharp signal to the Pakistani establishment. He added that India could legitimately cite a right to self-defence in taking such strong action, following the example of United States operations in Pakistan against Osama bin Laden and Mullah Akhtar Mansour. Riedel observed, however, that regardless of outside support for India's position, its situation in Kashmir would only worsen unless Prime Minister Modi addressed "the legitimate demands of Kashmiris." This, according to Riedel, would require Modi to adopt a policy on Kashmir "independent of how he deals with Pakistan," though his "strong popularity gives him much room to act."

Reactions

India

Across India, the military raid was widely praised. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi said Prime Minister Modi had, for the first time in his tenure, "taken an action that is worthy of the status of a Prime Minister." Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal also praised the raid.

Following the military raid, in anticipation of cross-border shelling from Pakistan, Indian authorities evacuated 10,000 residents of villages located within ten kilometres of the border, in the states of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. Military surveillance was also stepped up along the Line of Control.

Pakistan

Pakistan rejected the claim of a surgical strike, stating that Indian troops had only engaged in firing upon Pakistani soldiers, killing two Pakistani soldiers and wounding nine. Journalists surveyed the area where the 'surgical strikes' are said to have taken place, and spoke to locals who explained: “They are lying...they never crossed the L.O.C.” The spokesperson for the Pakistani Army asked: “Where is the damage?”, referring to the lack of any evidence of any surgical strikes. ISPR spokesman Asim Bajwa termed the "surgical strike" claim an "illusion being deliberately generated by India to create false effects" and a "fabrication of the truth".

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif convened an all-parties conference and an emergency cabinet meeting. He stated Pakistan would take any steps necessary to safeguard its territorial integrity. "We will defend our homeland against any aggression. The entire nation is standing shoulder to shoulder with our armed forces."

In a public address in Faisalabad, Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Hafiz Muhammad Saeed threatened a "befitting response" to India from Pakistan. "We will tell you what is a real surgical strike...and you will get the deserved response soon...the United States will not be able to help you. Now it is Pakistan’s turn to give a befitting response to India. Narendra Modi will now know what is meant by surgical strikes."

Other states

  •  Afghanistan - Shaida Abdali, Afghanistan's ambassador to India, expressed support for the military raids by India, stating the actions in Pakistan-administered Kashmir had been conducted in "self-defence." He added his hopes that "no one will allow safe havens for terrorists to be used against neighbours."
  •  Bangladesh - Iqbal Chowdhury, the advisor to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, stated India had the "legal, internationally accepted right" to take action. "Bangladesh always believes that any aggression or attack on the sovereignty of the independence and legal right of a country is not acceptable and Bangladesh always feels that any country must honour and respect the sovereignty of a third country."
  •  China - Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Sheung stated that China, "as a shared neighbour and friend to both India and Pakistan," was concerned about the "continuous confrontation and tensions" between the two nations. He said China called on "all relevant parties to exercise restraint and refrain from actions that would escalate tension," and expressed hopes that both parties would address their differences through dialogue.
  •  Russia - The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed concern over "aggravation" of the situation along the Line of Control, and stated it expected Pakistan to take "effective" steps in stopping the activities of terrorist groups operating from its territory. "We are calling on the parties not to allow any escalation of tension and to settle the existing problems by political and diplomatic means through negotiations. We stand for decisive struggle against terrorism in all its manifestations." Russian Ambassador to India Alexander Kadakin subsequently said that the Russian Federation was the only country to directly state that terrorists came from Pakistan; he called upon Pakistan to end cross-border terrorism and welcomed India's surgical strikes. " greatest human rights violations take place when terrorists attack military installations and attack peaceful civilians in India. We welcome the surgical strike. Every country has right to defend itself."
  •  United States – White House spokesman Josh Earnest encouraged continued talks between India and Pakistan, to avoid further escalating the situation.

Supranational organisations

  •  United Nations – Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, stated the Secretary-General was following the developments "with great concern," adding that the United Nations "calls on the governments of India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, and encourages them to continue the effort to resolve their differences peacefully and through dialogue." In a press conference on 3 October, Vitaly Churkin, the Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations and the President of the UN Security Council for that month, refused to comment on the India-Pakistan situation, stating the Security Council had not been discussing the matter.

See also

References

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