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Machhal attack: Pakistan continues to bleed India with cross-border strikes, fatalities on rise even after Uri assault
A total of 18 Indian soldiers have been killed in the aftermath of 'surgical strikes' carried out against Pakistan on September 29.
New Delhi, Nov 22: 3 Indian soldiers were killed in a dastardly cross-border attack by Pakistan on Tuesday. The soldiers were reportedly killed by Pakistan’s Border Action Team (BAT) through a covert operation. The Pakistani soldiers infiltrated across the Line of Control in Machhal sector and killed the Indian soldiers. The body of one of the deceased jawan was brutally mutilated. The brutal cross-border assault by Pakistan has rattled the Indian army and political establishment. Within minutes after the attack, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar reportedly instructed the Army to prepare a befitting retaliation.
The brutal mutilation of the Indian army jawan on Tuesday comes barely days after sepoy Mandeep Singh was mutilated in a similar manner. The 26-year-old sepoy from Kurukshetra was chopped by Pakistan-backed terrorists who crossed the LoC and returned successfully under heavy firing protection by the Pakistani Rangers.
DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh has dialled up his counterpart in Pakistan to raise the Machhal incident. However, Pakistan is expected to adopt the usual response of denial.
Pakistan bleeding India with cross-border assaults
Pakistan’s military establishment has maintained a hawkish approach against India, despite the civilian government pushing for talks. Borders have continued to remain turbulent, with next door Islamic Republic violating ceasefires as per its whims and fancies. Apart from exhibiting aggression at the border, Pakistan has also backed the non-state actors who are fueling jihad in the Valley.
Uri terror attack
In one of the deadliest attack against the Indian army in over a decade, 17 soldiers of one regiment were killed by terrorists who had infiltrated from Pakistan. The militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad launched a fidayeen attack at the Army base in Uri on September 18. A total of 18 jawans were killed in the attack, where 19 were left critically injured.
Number of ceasefire violations after ‘surgical strikes’
To avenge the terror attack in Uri, India conducted precision strikes in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) via its para-commandos. According to reports, nearly 30-50 terrorists were killed in the surgical strikes conducted by India.
However, the Pakistani military establishment was evidently rattled after the surgical strikes. Instead of going on the back foot, Pakistan increased the number of ceasefire violations. According to The Hindu, a total of 286 incidents of ceasefire violations have been reported after the surgical strikes.
Number of soldiers killed after ‘surgical strikes’
A total of 18 Indian soldiers have been killed in the aftermath of surgical strike carried out against Pakistan on Sept 29. The deaths have been reported in cases of ceasefire violations, unprovoked firing by Pakistan and cross-border by Pakistan’s Border Action Team. 12 civilians have also been killed near the LoC, after they were caught in the intermittent firing.
Fatalities in 2016
According to data provided by South Asia Terrorism Portal, a total of 74 Indian soldiers were reportedly killed on north-western front bordering with Pakistan. The soldiers were martyred either in cross-border terror attacks or ceasefire violations by Pakistan. The figures were calculated till November 20. Adding the figures of casualties sustained today, the toll jumps to 77.
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