Surgical strike: Desired result obtained, intended message conveyed, says Vikas Swarup

With a section of leaders demanding proof of the Indian Army's surgical strike at Pakistani terror launch pads, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said what the government puts out or not is determined solely by the national security and it still continued to be so, while adding that the Indian Army was given a task which it carried out with 'surgical precision' - the desired result has been obtained and the intended message has been conveyed.

"As you all know, it is usual to see Pakistan's reaction of denial of terrorism sponsored from its soil against its neighbour - elimination of Osama bin Laden and Mullah Mansour were met with similar denials, but we all know the truth," said MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup at the weekly media briefing here.

"Our counterterrorism operation on September 29 was to neutralise an imminent threat terrorists ready to launch from across the Line of Control (LoC). The Indian Army was given a task which it carried out with 'surgical precision' - the desired result has been obtained and the intended message has been conveyed," he added.

When asked about regular ceasefire violation by Pakistan, he said, "Twenty successful interdictions have been carried out by security forces on or along the LoC, stopping infiltration attacks by dozens of terrorists and neutralising them."

"Since July 8 only, close to a dozen major terrorist attacks taken place in Jammu and Kashmir, supported and launched from across the LoC or the International Border (IB), including in Handwara," he added.

"Captured terrorists told us of large number of terrorists trained and ready to be launched in terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir," said the MEA spokesperson, adding: "I would like to remind you of what the DGMO said on September 29: 'it is India's intention to maintain peace and tranquillity in the region, but we can certainly not allow the terrorists to operate across the LoC with impunity and attack the citizens of our country.'"

On the diplomatic side, he said when the Pakistan High Commissioner was called in on August 9 and later on September 21 and 27, he was clearly conveyed that India expects Pakistan to fulfil its assurances of 2004 reiterated at the highest levels not to allow territory under its control for terrorism against any country.

"You have already seen the pressure that we have brought to bear internationally on Pakistan to see support to cross-border terrorism. You all have seen the result at the United Nations General Assembly and SAARC, and see statements by major countries like United States and Russia," Swarup added.

Asked about Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan, the spokesperson said, the government will take a review on the matter based on security and trade situation. He said, promoting shared prosperity with India's neighbours has been government's priority but terrorism cannot be the commodity exported.

On Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's remarks on the killing of a terrorist in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Swarup said, the neighbouring country has once again implicated itself.