1st surgical strike carried out in Sept 2016: Lt Gen Ranbir

‘Airstrike on terrorist camp in Pakistan a major achievement’

UDHAMPUR:: Northern command chief Lt Gen Ranbir Singh on Monday said the first surgical strike was carried out by India in September 2016.

Citing an RTI reply by Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), Indian Army, Lt Gen Singh said the first surgical strike by armed forces took place in September 2016, to avenge the Uri garrison attack, in which 19 soldiers were killed.

“A few days ago, DGMO said in a reply to an RTI that the first surgical strike happened in September 2016. I don’t want to go into what political parties say, they will be given an answer by the government. What I have told you is a statement of fact,” Lt Gen Singh told reporters after felicitating students of army goodwill schools here.

Lt Gen Singh was responding to a question about Congress’ claims of conducting six surgical strikes during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) rule.

However, it may also be stated here that the then Northern Army commander Lt Gen DS

... DGMO said in a reply to an

RTI that the first surgical strike happened in September 2016... What I told you is a statement of fact.

LT GEN RANBIR SINGH,

Northern command chief

Hooda, who oversaw the 2016 surgical strikes and later joined the Congress to draft its national security manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, had backed the party saying similar strikes were carried out before 2016 also.

Lt Gen Singh said the airstrike by Indian Air Force (IAF) on a terrorist camp at Balakot in Pakistan was a “major achievement”.

“It was a major achievement wherein our aircraft went deep into enemy territory and struck terror launchpads and camps. Pakistanis carried out air operations close to the LOC the following day but the IAF gave a befitting reply to them,” he added.

LOCALS JOINING MILITANCY CAUSE OF CONCERN

Lt Gen Singh also expressed concern over locals in Kashmir joining militancy.

“It remains a matter of concern. But Pakistan today feels absolutely starved because of effective counter-infiltration grid of the army. Local recruitment remains a matter of concern for all of us. Last year, 217 local youth had joined militant outfits. This year, the number has significantly reduced and as on date there are only 40 youth who have picked up arms,” he said.

“People in the valley have now realised the sinister designs of the neigbouring country and they don’t want to become fodder for Pakistani agencies,” he added.

86 MILITANTS KILLED SO FAR THIS YEAR

He said 86 militants had been killed so far in 2019 and around 20 had been apprehended.

“Many were brought back into the mainstream,” he said, adding that operations against militants would continue.

“The security situation in Jammu and Kashmir is under control, but the terror infrastructure across the border is intact. Pakistan is continuing anti-india activities, whether it is ceasefire violation, cross-border infiltration, drug trafficking, and circulation of fake Indian currency,” he said.

He said the neighbouring country wanted to continue with its proxy war against India.

The Northern Army chief said the army was able to check and arrest terror activities in south of Pir Panjal in Jammu region. “At present, there are no confirmed reports about the presence of terrorists in the region. We will not allow the area to slip into terrorism,” he added.