PAK WILL PAY FOR ATTACK: NIRMALA
Says attackers had local support, handlers across border
Jammu, Feb. 12: Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday blamed Pakistan for the terror attack at the Sunjuwan Military Camp here and made it clear that it will pay the price for the “misadventure”.
She asserted that even though evidence of Pakistan’s role may be shared, India still reserved the “right to respond adequately at the time our choosing”.
Defence minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, on Monday warned Pakistan that it “will have to pay for this misadventure”.
She was referring to the militant attack at Sunjuwan military station in Jammu while speaking to reporters in Jammu and Kashmir’s winter capital.
Five soldiers and one civilian were killed and eleven persons including an Army Major injured after a group of “heavily armed and highly motivated terrorists” of Jaish-e-Muhammad stormed the 36 Brigade headquarters of the Army’s Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry at Sunjuwan on Saturday morning.
The defence minister said, “I wouldn’t certainly state a timeline (for action against Pakistan). But will say this, Pakistan will pay for this misadventure. I repeat, Pakistan will pay for it.”
She said that the evidences collected during the operation ‘Flush Out’ and the investigation into the terror attack will be given to Pakistan.
“All the evidences collected have been compiled. Definitely, they will be given to Pakistan,” she said.
One of these evidences was that the attack was carried out by the JeM which, she said, was being sponsored by Moulana Masood Azhar who lives in Pakistan.
She said, “Terrorists belonged to Jaish-e-Muhammed, sponsored by Masood Azhar residing in Pakistan and deriving support from there.”
Sitharaman who arrived in Jammu earlier on a brief visit to take stock of the security situation in the state that emerged after the terror attack said that those involved in it “enjoyed some local support and had handlers across the border”.
Referring to the crossborder skirmishes, she said that Pakistan has been violating the November 2003 ceasefire understanding repeatedly to help infiltrators. However, she claimed, “Activities of terrorists in the hinterlands are severely curtailed due to relentless efforts of security forces.”