Army destroys Pak posts, govt says 'such actions needed to ensure peace in J&K'

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said the Army is taking preemptive and measured actions to counter terrorism in the Kashmir Valley.

NEW DELHI: The government on Tuesday came out in support of the Army's assault on Pakistani posts along the LOC involved in aiding infiltration of terrorists into India, saying such measures are needed for peace in Jammu and Kashmir. Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said the Army is taking preemptive and measured actions to counter terrorism in the Kashmir Valley. "Government supports the actions of Indian Army across LoC. Such actions are needed to ensure peace in J&K," Jaitley tweeted. "Indian Army is taking preemptive and measured actions to counter terrorism in valley and disengage Pak posts across LoC supporting infiltration," he said. Earlier on Tuesday, Army released a clip that dates back to May 9 showing bunkers on Pakistani being decimated in an assault by Indian army. The 22-second video showed concrete structures being reduced to rubble amid plumes of smoke and balls of fire. This assault of Indian army is seen as  a strong message to Pakistan army which killed two Indian soldiers and mutilated their bodies. "Army has undertaken fire assault across LoC as part of its counter terror operation. Locations aiding infiltration of terrorists were targeted and destroyed," Army said. "Pakistan Army has been providing support to armed infiltrators. We proactively dominate LOC, and want peace and tranquility in J&K," Major General Ashok Narula said. According to defence experts, the assault may have claimed lives of 25-30 people including Pakistani soldiers and terrorists. On May 1, Pakistan's Border Action Team (BAT), which comprises the special forces, killed two Indian soldiers and mutilated their bodies under the cover of shelling by Pakistani troops in Krishna Ghati Sector in Poonch. Pakistan Army spokesperson denied Indian claims of destroying Pakistani post along LOC in Naushera Sector. Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor also said India’s claims of firing by Pakistani Army on civilians across LOC are false. However, Ghafoor’s tweet on May 13, did indicate that an attack of such nature ahd taken place around the same period and the confirmation of which was made by Indian Army today. “Any Indian Army misadventure across LOC 'll be a miscalc,shall be responded with full force & could lead to unintended consequences,” Ghafoor had tweeted. Pakistan in September last year also denied the surgical strikes by India and accused it of cross-border firing that killed two Pakistani soldiers. FULL STATEMENT OF INDIAN ARMY  Infiltrations are likely to increase with melting of snow and opening of passes. Operations like Naugam where four terrorists were neutralized on 20-21 May 17 are the instances. This calls for more pro-active counter-terrorism operations. We want peace and tranquility in the state of J&K. For this purpose it is essential that the infiltrations along Line of Control are controlled, which is essential to curbing down the numbers of terrorists in J&K so that youths of J&K are not adversely influenced by terrorists from across. A recent action by our troops in the Naushera Sector has caused some damage to the Pakistan Army posts, which are supporting infiltrations. This is part of our overall strategy to counter terrorism. As part our counter-terrorism operations, punitive fire assaults across line of control are being undertaken by the Indian Army. Pak Army has been providing support to armed infiltrators by engaging our forward troops from their weapon emplacements and pill-boxes closer to the Line of Control. At times they have not even hesitated to target villages in the proximity of LOC. As part of our counter-terrorism strategy and to ensure that infiltration is curbed and initiative remains with us, the Indian Army proactively dominates LoC, while doing so locations aiding infiltration of terrorists are being targeted and destroyed to deny advantage to terrorists thus curbing infiltration attempts.