NEW DELHI: India warned Pakistan that it would “pay for this misadventure”following a deadly attack by militants on an army camp in Indian OccupiedKashmir that has stoked tensions between the nuclear armed rivals.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters on Monday evening thatthe Indian army has ample evidence to prove that “the handlers of theterrorists were back in Pakistan.”
Saturday’s attack on the camp near Jammu, the winter capital of the state,was the worst in months with six soldiers and the father of a soldierkilled. Among the 10 wounded were women and children. At least threemilitants were killed, according to Indian officials, bringing the deathtoll to 10.
“Pakistan is expanding the arc of terror… resorting to ceasefireviolations to assist infiltration,” Sitharaman blamed. “Pakistan will payfor this misadventure.”
Indian officials claimed that the heavily armed attackers involved inSaturday’s attack were members of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant group.
Pakistani officials criticised India for rushing to a conclusion without afull inquiry.
After shooting their way into the base, the militants — who Indianofficials said wore fatigues and carried assault rifles and grenades — hadtaken positions inside a residential complex meant for soldiers’ families,leading to more than a day of gunfights to clear the area.
Pakistan rejected India’s latest allegations and has denied giving materialaid to the fighters in Kashmir. Such accusations, according to a recentstatement by Pakistan’s foreign ministry, stem from India’s attempts todivert attention from its own “state terrorism” in the area to include “thebrutalisation of peaceful, unarmed Kashmiris.”