Another soldier was injured and is reported to be in stable condition.
In Kupwara
district of Jammu and Kashmir, a soldier was killed and another wounded in a
clash with terrorists along the Line of Control (LoC) today, as reported from
New Delhi. The Army confirmed that a "Pakistani intruder" also
perished in the encounter.
According to
the Army's statement, "Taking advantage of adverse weather and limited
visibility in the Machhal Sector, two to three armed individuals crossed the
LoC and launched an attack on a forward Army post at close range. Alert troops
retaliated swiftly, resulting in the death of one Pakistani intruder and the
recovery of weapons, ammunition, and war-like stores. The identity and
affiliation of this Pakistani national are being verified."
Two soldiers
sustained severe injuries during the firefight and were transported to the Base
Hospital in Srinagar. The Army reported that one of the soldiers succumbed to
his injuries, while the other is stable and responding well to treatment.
The Army's
statement added, "Similar infiltration attempts, often facilitated by the
Pakistani Army, have exploited dense foliage and poor visibility but have
consistently been thwarted. The Indian Army remains resolute in maintaining the
sanctity of the LoC and countering the malicious activities of the Pakistan
Army."
Sources
within the Army suggest that Pakistan's Border Action Team (BAT), notorious for
such operations prior to the February 2021 ceasefire agreement between India
and Pakistan, likely aided this attack.
"This
represents an aggressive move and a clear escalation along the LoC,"
commented a senior officer. The incident follows Kargil Vijay Diwas, during
which Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a stern warning to Pakistan,
asserting that the Indian Army would overcome every terrorist threat.
Earlier this week, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi inspected the same LoC area to review the forces' preparedness against infiltration and terrorist attacks.
Amid
increasing terrorist activities, Prime Minister Modi chaired a review meeting
last month to evaluate the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. He
consulted with Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor Ajit
Doval, receiving a comprehensive overview of the Union Territory's security
status and the counter-terrorism measures being implemented by the armed
forces. Additionally, he spoke with Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha
for an update on local administrative efforts.
The Prime
Minister has instructed authorities to fully utilize the armed forces'
counter-terror capabilities.