[Quite interestingly, very much unkike this time, there was no release of video(s) to buttress the earlier claim by the Indian Army of "surgical strikes" across the LoC (see: <http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-carried-out-surgical-strike-across-loc-inflicted-damage-on-terrorists-army/story-s0mbwkNxTGpfowxMK9lxLI.html>), rubbished by its Pak counterpart. Indian Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, had though vaguely hinted at such a possibility in some future. (See: '‘Wait and watch’, responds Rajnath to clamour for footage of cross-LoC strikes', dtd. Oct 02, 2016, at <http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/army-made-india-proud-by-launching-surgical-strikes-says-rajnath/story-k4ku3wULeNmQCdv0quA9XN.html>.)
So, the video war is a new feature added to the ongoing low level armed conflicts between the two nuclear-tipped neighbours.] I/II. http://www.abplive.in/india-news/to-counter-indias-claim-pakistan-army-releases-video-of-destroying-indian-posts-531004 To counter India's claim, Pakistan army releases video of "destroying Indian posts" ABP LIVE INDIA ABP News Bureau | Last Updated: 24 May 2017 10:07 AM New Delhi: In a bid to counter India’s claims of carrying out a punitive assault on its posts, Pakistan Army on Tuesday night released a video of allegedly destroying Indian posts in Nowshera Sector on May 13. Around 9.40pm, Pakistan uploaded footage that showed several clips of thick smoke and explosions, saying its army struck Indian posts "in a befitting reply" on May 13. [Video] Major General Asif Ghafoor, the official spokesperson of Pakistan Armed Forces, tweeted saying “no Pakistani post was destroyed by India on May 13. Indians targeted civilians on both sides of LOC. Pakistan’s response were restricted to military targets only.” [Screenshot of Press Release dtd. May 23] View image on Twitter View image on Twitter Follow Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor ✔ @OfficialDGISPR PR277/17 No Pakistani post destroyed by India on 13 May. Indians tgt civ on both sides of LOC. Pak response restricted to mil tgts only. 1/2 9:25 PM - 23 May 2017 441 441 Retweets 962 962 likes Twitter Ads info & Privacy In his second tweet, Ghafoor released a video dated May 13, 2017, which read “India targeted innocent civilians. In befitting response Pak Army destroyed Indian posts in Nowshera Sec. 2/2.” [Video] Follow Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor ✔ @OfficialDGISPR On 13 May 2017, India targeted innocent civilians. In befitting response Pak Army destroyed Indian posts in Nowshera Sec. 2/2. 9:41 PM - 23 May 2017 1,545 1,545 Retweets 2,800 2,800 likes Twitter Ads info & Privacy The prompt reaction from the neighbouring country came after Indian Army announced that it has been carrying out punitive fire assaults across the line of control to thwart infiltration bid of terrorists from Pakistan. "A recent action by our troops in the Naushera sector has caused some damage to the Pak army posts, which are supporting infiltrations. This is part of our overall strategy to counter terrorism," Major General Ashok Narula, head of army’s public information wing, informed media persons on Tuesday afternoon. Reports say the strikes on Pakistani army posts were carried out on May 9-10. The "fire assaults" were probably in response to the beheading of two Indian soldiers on May 1 in Krishna Ghati. The Indian Army has for the first time made public footage of "punitive fire assaults" across the Line of Control. [Video] Meanwhile, Pakistan in September last year also denied the surgical strikes by India and accused it of cross-border firing that killed two Pakistani soldiers. "This quest by Indian establishment to create media hype by rebranding cross border fire as surgical strike is fabrication of truth. Pakistan has made it clear that if there is a surgical strike on Pakistani soil, same will be strongly responded," the Pakistani military's press wing, had then said. II. http://www.dailypioneer.com/todays-newspaper/army-avenges-martyrs-mutilation.html ARMY AVENGES MARTYRS’ MUTILATION Wednesday, 24 May 2017 | Pioneer News Service | New Delhi The Indian Army carried out a major counter-offensive across the Line of Control (LoC) on May 9 targeting Pakistan Army posts that aided infiltrators in Naushera sector in Jammu region. The “punitive fire assault” is seen as India’s retaliatory response to mutilation of the bodies of two Indian soldiers by Pakistan’s Border Action Team (BAT) on May 1 in Poonch sector. Several Pakistani posts, which provide fire cover to terrorists during infiltration bids, were destroyed. The Army plans to continue with this strategy of “taking out” specific posts helping terrorists to sneak into the border State and this action will take place in Jammu & Kashmir divisions, the Army said here on Tuesday. The “fire assault” in Naushera saw the Army using intense firing by Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM), Automatic Grenade Launchers (AGL), Recoilless Anti-Tank Guns and Rocket Launchers in direct firing mode to destroy the Pakistan Army posts. However, the extent of damage in terms of casualties on the other side is not known. A 24-second video clip was also released by the Army here on Tuesday showing concrete structures being reduced to rubble amid plumes of smoke and balls of fire. Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said the Government supports the actions of the Army across the LoC. Such actions are needed to ensure peace in J&K, he said, adding, the Army is taking pre-emptive and measured actions to counter terrorism in Kashmir and disengage Pakistani posts across the LoC supporting infiltration by terrorists. The Pakistan Army, however, denied the Indian Army’s action and dismissed as “false” the assertion that it decimated Pakistan Army posts in the Naushera sector. “Indian claims of destroying Pakistani posts along LoC in Naushera sector and firing by Pakistan Army on civilians across LoC are false,” Pakistan Director-General of Inter-Services Public Relations, Major-General Asif Ghafoor said in a tweet. Meanwhile, giving details of the action, Additional Director-General Public Information, Major-General Ashok Narula said the assault “has caused some damage to Pakistan Army posts, which are supporting infiltrations. This is part of our overall strategy to counter terrorism.” Elaborating upon the strategy, he said as part of counter-terrorism operations, “punitive fire assaults” across the LoC are being undertaken by the Army. “Pakistan Army is providing support to armed infiltrators by engaging Indian forward troops from their weapon emplacements and pill-boxes closer to the LoC,” he said. “At times they have not even hesitated to target villages in the proximity of the LoC. As part of our counter-terrorism strategy and to ensure that infiltration is curbed and the initiative remains with us, the Indian Army proactively dominates the LoC. While doing so, locations aiding infiltration of terrorists are being targeted and destroyed to deny advantage to terrorists thus curbing infiltration attempts,” he said. Justifying the pro-active approach, Narula said the Indian Army wants peace and tranquility in J&K, and for this it’s essential that the infiltrations along the LoC are controlled. At present nearly 250 terrorists are active in the sensitive Kashmir Valley and this number includes at least 110 to 115 local young men who have joined the terrorist ranks in the last few months. Moreover, 300-odd terrorists armed and well-trained by the Pakistan Army and ISI are poised to sneak into J&K from at least 20-25 launch pads located close to the LoC in Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (POK). The Army had conducted surgical strikes in POK in September last year and destroyed several launch pads and Pakistan Army posts besides killing at least 35 terrorists. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
