44 DEAD IN VALLEY’S BLOODIEST DAY

CRPF ATTACKED Car with explosives hits convoy on Jammu-srinagar highway; JEM claims responsibility, govt vows action

SRINAGAR/JAMMU: A suicide bomber driving a car packed with explosives rammed a bus carrying Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troops, part of a large paramilitary convoy, on the Jammusrinagar highway on Thursday. Forty-four men were killed as the vehicle was reduced to a mangled heap of metal in the deadliest terror attack in three decades of insurgency — one, which many experts said, would evoke a strong response from India.

At least 20 more were injured in the attack in the Awantipora area of Pulwama district. Terror outfit Jaish-e-mohammad, which Indian authorities say is backed by Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack that took place in Lethpora, about 30 km from Srinagar. While the police put the official death toll at 33, security officials in Srinagar and New Delhi said at least 44 people had died.

Jaish said the suicide bombing was carried out by a local militant whom it identified as Adil Ahmad Dar of Pulwama.he joined the Jaish in 2018, PTI cited unnamed officials as saying. The Jaish claimed in a statement that the vehicle was carrying 350 kg of explosives, which Indian authorities did not confirm.

“Attack on CRPF personnel in Pulwama is despicable. I strongly condemn this dastardly attack,” PM Narendra Modi said in a statement as political parties denounced the attack in unison. “Sacrifices of our brave security personnel shall not go in vain. The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the families of the brave martyrs. May the injured recover quickly.”

Congress president Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter: “I’m deeply disturbed by the cowardly attack on a #CRPF convoy in J&K in which many of our brave CRPF men have been martyred and a large number wounded, some critically.” In a tweet, party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala charged the Modi government with compromising national security and said terror attacks had taken place unabated under it. The attack may ratchet up tensions between India and Pakistan. Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik said the fact that Jaish owned up to carrying out the attack indicated that Pakistan may have had a hand in it. Minister of state in the Prime Minister’s Office, Jitender Singh, told television channels that the attack had led to a “war- like” situation.

“This is a bigger attack than Uri. Unlike the Uri attack, a Pakistan-based terror group has claimed responsibility There will be much more pressure on Pakistan, but my hunch is, because a Pakistan-based group has claimed responsibility, New Delhi too, will have to act. The form and shape of the retaliation will be the government’s prerogative,” said General DS Hooda, former Northern Army commander.

The ministry of external affairs, while condemning the “heinous and despicable act perpetrated by Jaish-e-mohammed, a Pakistan-based and supported terrorist organisation proscribed by the United Nations and other countries” called for its chief Masood Azhar to be listed as a designated terrorist under the sanctions committee of the UN Security Council.

The security establishments at the Centre and in the state, which is under federal rule, were huddled in meetings to take stock of the situation following the attack that precedes general elections, likely to be held simultaneously with state elections, in the spring of 2019.

National security adviser Ajit Doval was monitoring the situation and senior CRPF officials were briefing him.

NEW DELHI: The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) – the highest decision-making body on security chaired by the Prime Minister – will meet on Friday morning to discuss India’s response to the attack on the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy in Jammu and Kashmir in which 44 soldiers were killed.

Heavily armed Indian commandos crossed the Line of Control (LOC) and carried out a coordinated raid hitting terror camps collated with Pakistani Army establishment – commonly known as surgical strikes -- after 18 Indian soldiers were killed in the Uri Brigade headquarters attack in 2016. Similarly, in 2015 when rebels in Manipur ambushed an Indian army convoy, Indian commandos crossed into Myanmar and destroyed militant camps.

“This is much bigger than the Uri Brigade headquarters attack. No terror organisation claimed responsibility for the Uri attack. Now, however, a Pakistan based terror organisation – the Jaish-emohammed [JEM] – has taken responsibility for this attack. Pakistan will be under pressure, but my hunch is that New Delhi will have to act and retaliate. What will be the form and shape of the retaliation will be the prerogative of the government,” former Northern Army Commander, General DS Hooda, said.

General Hooda played a role in the surgical strikes that followed the Uri attack.

“Pakistan hasn’t not stopped infiltration or funding terror organizations, Ceasefire violations too have gone up. India’s response will take all this into account and also the internal situation in Jammu and Kashmir,” General Hooda added.

Others experts agreed with Hooda. “We should not respond in hurry. We need to look at how our convoys are moving and whether we need to rework our quick-reaction teams. And, also devise a response to this emerging threat of vehicles being used for suicide bombing,” Former Western Army Commander, Genenral K J Singh said. “Our response should be at time and place of our choosing. Decisionmakers should not come under pressure from either media or social media. The retribution/ retaliation should be firm and with minimum noise,” General Singh added.