Pak army general threatens India, UN expresses concern
Pakistani Army Chief General Raheel Sharif said if Pakistan were to launch a surgical strike, "India would not be able to forget it for generations to come." Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon asked India and Pakistan to "prioritize the restoration of calm and stability...to prevent any further escalation." Bilateral relations continue to deteriorate as ceasefire violations have become more frequent along the LoC.
Three Indian soldiers were killed in action along the Line Of Control on 22nd Nov in Machhal district of Kashmir. One of the soldiers, 31-year old Prabhu Singh from Jodhpur, Rajasthan was mutilated and beheaded. The Indian Army believes that the beheading was a signature move of Pakistan army's 'Border Action Team'. This is the second such mutilation in this sector since October 28.
Since India's surgical strike inside PoK on September 29, Pakistan has repeatedly violated the ceasefire. Over last 54 days, India has lost 17 soldiers in cross-border firing. Indian forces have responded to Pakistan's attack befittingly.
The Indian Army launched a massive counter-operation along the Line of Control (LoC) in North Kashmir. The fire assault by the Indian Army is targeted at Pakistan's permanent defences as their Army posts facilitate infiltration from across the border. This was Indian Army's retribution for the mutilation and beheading of an Indian soldier; armed forces promised "heavy retribution" for attacks on its soldiers.
According to senior officers in the Indian Army, this is the biggest fire assault along the LoC since 2003. The Indian Army launched its offensive at 9 am on 23rd November in the thickly-forested Machhil sector of Kashmir; Pakistani army posts along the border have been continuously targeted with heavy mortar shells. Reportedly, the Indian Army was instructed to retaliate with 'equal might'.
Pakistani Army has been firing at Indian posts along Poonch, Rajouri, Nowshera and other districts along the LoC. As a result, three soldiers of the Border Security Force were injured on 23rd November due to Pakistani fire in Rajouri district. Allegedly, shelling from the Indian side reportedly hit a passenger vehicle in Pakistan-administered Kashmir injuring several travellers. India has yet to confirm civilian deaths.
Since October 28, the Army has conducted targeted fire assaults on forward posts and bunkers of the Pakistan army; the Indian Army is using artillery guns, anti-tank guided missiles and 120mm mortars to inflict heavy casualties.
Indian Army forces inflicted significant damage with heavy-calibre weapons on 15-16 Pakistani Army posts as retaliation for beheading of an Indian soldier. The intensity of the assault forced Pakistan's DGMO to call his Indian counterpart Lt-General Ranbir Singh for "unscheduled talks". Lt-General Singh strongly conveyed that "un-ethical mutilation" would not be tolerated and the Pakistan DGMO ought to exercise strict control over his troops.
