The “surgical strikes” conducted on 29 Sep 2016 by the Indian forces across the Line of Control (LOC) on terrorist camps based in the POK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) is popularly referred to as the Uri war. The strikes was characterized by India as an act of pre-emptive self-defense against Pakistan-based terrorism after the militant attack on the Indian Army base at Uri on 18 Sep, 2016, that resulted in the death of 19 soldiers.
The announcement about the strikes was made by the Indian government on 29 Sep, 2016. India stated that it had done considerable damage to terrorist bases in POK and media slated the casualty figures to be around 36 to 51. The government of India released partial footage of the surgical strikes for public viewing on 27 June 2018.
The Vicky Kaushal starring Bollywood film “Uri: The Surgical Strike” is based on the 29th Sep, 2016 action by the Indian forces. Vicky plays the role of a commander in chief that led the attack across the LOC as well as the teams’ safe return back into India. Other cast members include Yami Gautam, Kriti Kulhari, and Paresh Rawal. Ronnie Screwvala is the producer and debutant director Aditya Dhar will direct the movie.
The film “Uri: The Surgical Strike” will hit the theaters in India on 11 Jan 2019.
Events before the Uri war
In mid 2016, Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani was neutralized by the Indian Army. This resulted in wide-scale protests in the valley by July 2016. The unrest claimed the lives of 80 civilians and over 1000 civilians and 3000 security forces were injured.
On Sep 18, 2016, four Pakistan-based terrorists attacked the Indian Army camp at Uri and killed 19 soldiers. India subsequently called on the Pakistani high commission and placed a letter with it. The letter stated that the militants had links with a Pakistani terrorist group and that they showed fighting skills that can be obtained only via military training.
Pakistan rejected India’s claim and cited lack of proof about the terrorist attack originating in Pakistan. Pakistan’s defense minister even insinuated that the attack was launched by India itself in an effort to deflect attention from the protests happening in the Kashmir Valley. This inane suggestion is termed by many as a turning point which triggered India to respond militarily.
The Uri War surgical strikes
As per the Indian army, it had received exact and credible intelligence information about numerous terrorist teams being trained in camps in POK. They were going to cross the border and carry out terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir as well as in many other Indian states and metros. Hence, the army carried out the surgical strikes to destroy such militant bases and prevent the infiltration and terrorist attacks on Indian soil.
The main target of the teams carrying out the surgical strike were camps located near the LOC. These militant bases were the places where terrorists gathered for final instructions before crossing over into India.
The different stages of attack by the Indian Army on 29th Sep, 2016 are listed below:
- Both the teams then rapidly crossed the LOC and came back to India. There was just one soldier who was injured after he tripped a land mine.
- The surgical strikes operation began with the shelling of gunfire and mortar across the border by the Indian army. This was done to provide cover to the 3 or 4 teams that made up the attack force. Each of these teams had 70 to 80 commandos from the 4th and 9th battalions belonging to the Parachute Regiment.
- The teams crossed the LOC around midnight Indian Standard Time on Sep 29, 2016. The 9th battalion troops crossed the LOC from Poonch district, while concurrently the 4th battalion commandos crossed the LOC from Nowgam sector located in Kupwara district.
- The teams had travelled around 1 to 3 kilometers into POK by 2 AM IST. They had begun using hand grenades and 84 mm rocket launchers to attack and destroy all the militant camps along the way.
- After the operation was over, all the teams quickly retreated and safely crossed the border into India. Only one Indian soldier was wounded during the surgical strikes as he had tripped on a land mine.
Pakistan rejected the claim by the Indian government that the Indian security forces had crossed the LOC and into POK. Pakistan announced that there was just minor combat between the Pakistani and Indian troops, which caused the death of 2 Pakistani soldiers and wounded 9. They stated that over 8 Indian soldiers had been killed during the skirmish and one had been captured by Pakistan. They also dismissed the report of heavy Pakistani casualties by the Indian army.
){kind=link}