Pakistan is a terrorist state and should be isolated: Rajnath Singh

In one of the deadliest attacks on the Army in recent years, 17 jawans were killed as heavily armed militants stormed a battalion headquarters of the force in North Kashmir's Uri town in the wee hours on Sunday.

Pic courtsey: HMO

Delhi: In wake of the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday blasted Pakistan saying that it was a terrorist state and should be isolated.

The HM posted on micro-blogging site Twitter - "Pakistan is a terrorist state and it should be identified and isolated as such."

In another post he wrote, "There are definite and conclusive indications that the perpetrators of Uri attack were highly trained, heavily armed and specially equipped."

He also tweeted, "I am deeply disappointed with Pakistan’s continued and direct support to terrorism and terrorist groups."

Deeply distressed at the terror incident in Uri and the loss of 17 brave soldiers martyred. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 18, 2016

My heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyred soldiers. Those behind this terror incident would be brought to justice. — Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 18, 2016

Pakistan is a terrorist state and it should be identified and isolated as such. — Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 18, 2016

There are definite and conclusive indications that the perpetrators of Uri attack were highly trained, heavily armed and specially equipped. — Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 18, 2016

I have apprised the PM Shri @narendramodi regarding the deliberations of the security review meeting held at my residence this afternoon — Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 18, 2016

Singh has postponed his scheduled visit to Russia and the United States in the wake of the attack in J&K.

In one of the deadliest attacks on the Army in recent years, 17 jawans were killed as heavily armed militants stormed a battalion headquarters of the force in North Kashmir in the wee hours today.

Four militants involved in the terror strike were killed by the Army.

Explosions and gunfire erupted as the militants attacked the camp, which is located barely few metres away from the Army's Brigade Headquarters in Uri town, 102 kms from here, around 4 am, official sources said.

The jawans of the Dogra Regiment were sleeping in a tent which caught fire due the explosion. The fire also engulfed the nearby barracks, the sources said.

It is believed that the attack was the handiwork of a group of freshly infiltrated militants who could have entered from an area along the Salamabad Nallah, the sources said, as per PTI.

17 jawans were killed in the terror attack, the Northern Command of the Army said.

Nineteen other personnel were injured in the strike in which four militants were killed.

Defence sources said that this is one of the deadliest attacks on the Army in recent years.

In January, seven military personnel were killed when six terrorists attacked the Pathankot air base.

The attack comes two years after militants had carried out a similar type of attack at Mohra in the same area. Ten security personnel were killed in the attack that took place on December 5, 2014.

Giving details of the attack, the Army said in a statement, "A group of heavily armed terrorists targeted the rear administrative base of a unit at Uri, Kashmir. In the counter action, four terrorists have been eliminated and combing operations are in progress" The administrative base had large strength of troops of units turning over after their tour of duty who were stationed in tents/temporary shelters which caught fire, and resulted in heavy casualties. We salute the sacrifice of 17 soldiers who were martyred in the operation," the statement said.

(With PTI inputs)