New Delhi: Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla on Monday briefed a select group of Heads of Missions (HOMs) on the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Nagrota district, which was foiled by the Indian forces on November 19.
The envoys of United States of America, France, Russia and Japan were among the Heads of Missions briefed on the Nagrota incident.
According to sources, the Foreign Secretary is believed to have discussed the implications of the incident on security and diplomacy in the Jammu and Kashmir region, and also on the battle against terrorism. A dossier with complete details about the recent Nagrota incident was also handed over to the HOMs.
It may be noted that this is the first of several briefings to be conducted by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in small groups, given the COVID-19 situation at the moment. Other secretaries will also be briefing the Head of Missions in their areas of jurisdiction.
Sources said that the Head of Missions were provided with a detailed information docket, where details of the Nagrota incident were mentioned. The docket also included a list of items and ammunition that was recovered from the terrorists, clearly indicating that they originated from Pakistan.
The Head of Missions were further briefed on how the terrorist got into India through an underground tunnel in the Samba sector. They were further briefed on how preliminary probe markings on the recovered AK-47 rifles and other items showed that the terrorists belonged to Pakistan-based terror group, Jaish-e-Mohammad.
It was highlighted that the November 19 incident is part of Pakistan’s ongoing terror campaign in Jammu and Kashmir and that in the year 2020, there have been 200 incidents of terror-related violence and neutralization of 199 terrorists.
Moreover, according to reports, details of JeM’s involvement in previous such incidents were also shared. India also informed that it was clear that the terrorists were planning the “biggest terror” attack in the country since the tragic Pulwama attack in February 2019.
“This is part of ongoing efforts to sabotage the DDC elections and to carry out a terror attack aimed to coincide with the anniversary of 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes”, India informed the HOMs.
India further expressed concern regarding Pakistan’s sustained efforts to destabilize the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and undermine local DDC elections.
Last week, India lambasted the Pakistani army for its continued support to infiltrators across the Line of Control by constantly violating the ceasefire. India reminded Pakistan of the 2003 ceasefire agreement.
MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava had asserted that Pakistan continues to provide cross border cover fire to infiltrators and said that such activities of incursions are not possible to be undertaken without the involvement of Pakistani armed forces posted along the Line of Control.
On 21st Nov, India summoned Charge d’ Affaires of Pakistan High Commission and lodged a strong protest over the Nagrota encounter after it emerged that Jaish- e-Mohammad terrorists killed in the encounter were planning a big terror operation on the anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attack.
India lodged a strong protest demanding that Pakistan stops supporting terrorists and terror groups operating from their territory and dismantle the terrorism infrastructure, the MEA said.
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