Pak envoy Basit shrugs off Pampore attack, says 'let's enjoy Iftar Party'

With Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives being responsible for the death of as many as eight Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit on Saturday shrugged off the question on the attack, asking to rather focus on the Iftaar Party that was going on in the Pakistan High Commission.

"It's the month of Ramzaan, let's focus on this Iftaar party. The issue of Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed issue between India and Pakistan. It's an issue which needs to be solved. We hope we will sit and discuss on the issue and find a solution. Let's have the iftaar party and enjoy ourselves," Basit told the media here.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh earlier today offered his condolences to the kin of the martyred.

"Deeply anguished to learn of the death of CRPF personnel in an ambush at Pampore in Jammu and Kashmir today. My heart goes out to the families of the CRPF men who lost their lives in Pampore. I also pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," Rajnath said in a series of tweets.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also expressed her solidarity with the bereaved families of the slain CRPF personnel.

"The only purpose of such blood-spattered acts of violence is to add to the tragedies and miseries of the people and subvert the Government's efforts aimed at bringing permanent peace and prosperity to Jammu and Kashmir," the Chief Minister said in a statement.

Meanwhile, CRPF DG K Durga Prasad has briefed Rajnath on the incident and will be visiting Pampore tomorrow to take stock of the situation.

The CRPF today asserted that the two terrorists, who have been neutralized in the encounter, appeared to be Pakistanis and were Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives.

"According to the first hand info, both killed terrorists appeared to be Pakistanis and definitely from Lashkar and in all likelihood fidayeen," IG, CRPF operation Nalin Parbhat told ANI.

In the fierce gun-battle that took place today evening, 24 CRPF jawans were also injured.

The security personnel recovered arms and ammunition including 2 AK 47 Rifles, 11 hand grenades from the killed terrorists.