Pakistan returns fire on Nirmala Sitharaman’s threat to hit back

He said India has failed to deliver justice to the 42 Pakistanis murdered in the Samjhota Express terrorism eleven years ago this week.

“Militant groups supported by Islamabad will continue to take advantage of their safe haven in Pakistan to plan and conduct attacks in India and Afghanistan, including against United States interests”, Coats told a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday, focusing on “Worldwide Threat Assessment”.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry criticized India for “apportioning blame to Pakistan, without a shred of evidence”.

“Soldiers’ sacrifice won’t go in vain; we would ensure that Pakistan pays the price for its misadventure at a time of our choice”, she said.

In continuing violence in the Himalayan territory, one paramilitary soldier was reported killed on February 12 when gunmen opened fire near a paramilitary camp in India-administered Kashmir. “But we are still trying to ascertain their identities”, he said, adding that the nationalities of the attackers had not been confirmed.

Counter terrorist operation at the military camp was called off this morning but sanitisation operations were still on, she added.

Jammu: An infiltration bid was foiled by the army on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Thursday, defence sources said.

Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) on Monday claimed the responsibility of the recent terror attacks at Sunjwan Army Camp and Karan Nagar CRPF camp.

She after visiting the Sunjuwan camp has accused Pakistan of helping Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militants to launch attacks in camps of Indian security forces.

Speaking on ceasefire violations by Pakistan, he said 192 Pakistani soldiers were killed in Indian retaliation.

The ongoing low-intensity conflict in Kashmir has raised questions about the efficacy of Narendra Modi’s inflexible approach. “He resides in Pakistan and derives support from there”, Sitharaman, who was in Jammu on Monday, told media.

“Our basic problem has not been resolved”.

But Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said hours earlier that a dialogue with Pakistan “was the only option” to end violence in the Jammu and Kashmir. “I wouldn’t certainly state a timeline (for action against Pakistan). Unless there is political will on both sides, none of this can be achieved”, Jacob said.