Army gets free rein against militants

MODI, RAHUL JOIN NATION IN MOURNING ATTACK; PAKISTAN’S MOST FAVOURED NATION STATUS REVOKED

Modi, Rahul join nation in mourning attack; Pakistan’s favoured nation status is withdrawn as protests rock Jammu

Aday after the worst militant attack on Indian security forces, in which 45 soldiers were killed in Kashmir’s Pulwama, Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday said his government had decided to give free rein to the army to deal with militants and warned that those responsible for the attack would pay a “very heavy price”.

“I want to tell the terrorists and their backers that they have made a big mistake,” Modi said after chairing a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) with senior ministers. “You will have to pay a very heavy price. I assure everyone that we will bring the forces behind the attack to justice.”

“The neighbouring country, if it thinks it can destabilise India, it can forget it. That will never happen. We will give a fitting response to this attack,” Modi said.

Pakistan has condemned the attack and said it is a matter of grave concern even as it rejected India pointing out Islamabad’s link to the incident without investigations.

“We have always condemned heightened acts of violence in the Valley,” Pakistan’s Foreign Office said yesterday.

On Thursday, a militant rammed buses in a convoy of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Jammu-Srinagar highway with a car carrying 350kg of explosives.

The government also decided to withdraw the “Most Favoured Nation” (MFN) privileges given to Pakistan and said it would adopt all measures to ensure Islamabad’s isolation globally.

MFN status goes

“From today, the Most Favoured Nation status to Pakistan stands revoked,” Finance Minister Arun Jaitley informed media after the CCS meeting.

The MFN status is given to a trade partner to ensure nondiscriminatory trade between two countries.

Jaitley said there was “incontrovertible evidence against Pakistan in the Kashmir attack.”

The government also called the High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ajay Bisaria, to New Delhi for consultations.

“In the wake of Pakistanbased terrorist outfit Jaish-eMohammad’s (JEM) ‘fidayeen’ [suicide] attack on the CRPF convoy, we want the world community to isolate Pakistan,” Jaitley said.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) urged the international community to support the proposal to declare JEM chief Masood Azhar a “designated terrorist” through the United Nations.

In Kashmir’s Budgam, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Governor Satya Pal Malik and the army’s Northern Command chief, Lieutenant-General Ranbir Singh, paid tributes to the slain soldiers during a wreathlaying ceremony.

“Jaish-e-Mohammad has carried out this terror attack. We assure the country that we will undertake whatever it takes to avenge this,” Singh told media.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi mourned the death of the soldiers and said his Congress party would support the government on measures to deal with militancy in Kashmir.

“I will fully support the government and jawans in this difficult time,” he said.

Meanwhile, curfew was imposed in Jammu following massive violence in which at least 20 people were injured and dozens of vehicles torched by violent mobs protesting Thursday’s attack.

The curfew was imposed in the city as authorities feared a communal backlash. The Army has been called in to help maintain law and order and conduct flag marches.

Emphasising that Kashmiri people living in other states could be soft targets after the attack, former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah asked Home Minister Singh to direct all state governments to ensure their safety.

“My earnest appeal to the Home Minister is to please issue directions to all state governments to take special care in areas/colleges/institutions where Kashmiris are residing/studying,” Abdullah tweeted.

I want to tell the terrorist groups and their masters that they have committed a big mistake. They have to pay a heavy price.” Narendra Modi | Prime Minister

This type of violence is disgusting.… Those who have done this should not feel that they can harm the country.” Rahul Gandhi | Congress president

Jaish-e-Mohammad has carried out this attack. We will undertake whatever it takes to avenge this.” Rajnath Singh | Home Minister

PTI Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and J & K Governor Satya Pal Malik pay tribute to the CRPF personnel killed in Thursday’s Pulwama terror attack, at the CRPF camp in Budgam, yesterday.

PTI Family members mourn the death of CRPF trooper Kaushal Kumar Rawat, at his home in Agra yesterday. Rawat was killed in the Pulwama attack.

PTI Policemen patrol a street in Jammu yesterday after vehicles were set on fire by protesters against the killing of CRPF personnel in the Kashmir attack.