Russia slams "double standards" in fight against terror
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said that it was essential for all responsible powers to come together to battle the menace of terror. He said that there were "double or even, at times, triple standards" in the fight against terrorism, which is unacceptable. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Theresa May said the current Indo-Pak crisis needs to be resolved bilaterally, without international intervention.
India-Pak tensions escalating
Since the Modi government took charge in 2014, tensions between India and Pakistan have been on the rise due to the Indian government's aggressive rhetoric. The Pathankot air base attack was the most significant attack before the Uri attacks took place. Authorities have also recorded a steep increase (~50% rise) in cross-border infiltration attempts. The current Kashmir crisis is also attributed to Pakistan's ISI.
Four terrorists attack Army base, kill 18 soldiers
Four heavily armed terrorists, known as fidayeen, or a suicide squad, killed 18 soldiers and critically injured several others at a terror attack at the army's administrative base in Uri. The terrorists infiltrated the base and attacked the soldiers during the change of guard. The attack resulted in a six-hour gun battle in which all the four terrorists were killed.
India sets up investigation, blames Pak
India's National Investigation Agency immediately set up investigations into the incident, blaming Pakistan for the attack. Sources initially said that members of the Jaish-e-Mohammed carried out the attack, however, intelligence sources contradicted this claim. India also summoned Pakistan's High Commissioner to India, and went over the evidence gathered by authorities after the investigation. Pakistan has denied having a role in the attack.
India avenges Uri?
Unconfirmed reports have suggested that 2 units of India's Para Commandos flew over the LoC on the intervening night of 20-21 September and targeted 3 terror camps in PoK. 20 terrorists were said to be killed while over 200 were allegedly injured in the attack.
Pakistan blames India, Sharif goes to UN
Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif spoke at length at the UN, and brought up the "human rights violations in Kashmir," glorifying Burhan Wani as a "freedom fighter." Pakistani media houses were quick to call the Uri terror attack a "false flag operation" to divert international attention from the Kashmir issue. They added that India engineered the attack to divide Sikhs and Muslims in Kashmir.
World reacts to Uri attack, Pak isolated
In the wake of the Uri attacks world leaders expressed solidarity with India on the issue. The UK and France condemned the attacks and said they stood by India's stance. Russia cancelled its first joint military exercises and ammunition supply deal with Pakistan in the wake of the attack. A bill was also floated in the US Senate to designate Pakistan a terrorist state.
Uri attack: Modi to skip SAARC summit in Pak
As Indo-Pak tensions escalated over the Uri attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will skip the SAARC Summit in Islamabad scheduled for November this year. In addition, the US Department of State reiterated that Pakistan needs "to target all militant groups, including those that target Pakistan's neighbours." The Ministry of External affairs hinted that other SAARC members also expressed reservations about attending the Islamabad summit.
Pakistan unites after India responds to Uri
Pakistan's PM Nawaz Sharif has called an all-party meeting to address the ongoing Indo-Pak tension and identify an appropriate response. Surprisingly, the entire Pakistani political spectrum has united behind PM Sharif, including Bilawal Bhutto and Imran Khan. The agenda of the meeting is to "send a message" to the world after India's "cross-border aggression" along the LoC.
Pak envoy says Pak not isolated
Pakistan's Special Envoy on Kashmir, while speaking to an audience in Washington at the Stimson's Center, stated that Pakistan has not been isolated internationally. He stated that Pakistan waged one of the most difficult and successful anti-terror campaigns inside their country; however, he acknowledged that "remnants of terror" remained in Pakistan. He added that terrorism and extremism was the greatest threat to Pakistan.
US to Pak: Act against terror or we will
The US threatened to take unilateral action against terror-groups in Pakistan if the ISI fails to do so on its own. US officials said "there are forces within the Pakistani government, in Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence that refuse to take steps against all the terrorist-groups active in Pakistan." Officials added that the "US will not hesitate to act alone to disrupt and destroy these networks."
Pakistan will attend December meet on Afghanistan in Amritsar
Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to Pakistan's PM on Foreign Affairs claimed that Pakistan will be present at the Heart of Asia conference on Afghanistan in Amritsar this December. A senior official said that, "unlike India, Pakistan is in favour of reaching out to its neighbours for bringing peace and stability in Afghanistan." This statement referred to India's withdrawal from the November SAARC conference in Islamabad.
