Surgical strike had a positive impact on India: Lt Gen Ranbir Singh

GOC-in-Chief Northern Command Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh on Saturday asserted that the 2016 surgical strike across the Line of Control (LoC) had a "positive impact" on the country, contradicting Lieutenant General (retired) DS Hooda who was then the Northern Army Commander.

"Surgical strike is one of the options available to the Army. It had a positive impact on the country and we have been able to curb terrorism to a great extent with its help," Lieutenant General Singh told ANI here.

His statement is in contrast to what Lt Gen (retired) Hooda emphasised on Friday saying that the hype associated with the surgical strike was not needed. Hooda was the Northern Army Commander when India carried out the surgical strike in the wake of the Uri attack.

He told ANI, "I do think there was too much hype over it. The military operation was important and we had to do it. Now how much should it have been politicised, whether it is right or wrong is something that should be asked to politicians."

On September 18, 2016, four Pakistani terrorists attacked the Indian Army at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir, killing 19 soldiers. On September 29, the Indian Army avenging the attack conducted the surgical strike across the LoC in Pakistan occupied Kashmir and destroyed terrorist launch pads completely, killing many terrorists.

Meanwhile, when asked about Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's statement acknowledging his country's involvement in November 2008 attack in Mumbai, Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh said, "We have always said that Pakistan was involved in the terrorist attacks during that time. They have not said anything new. Now when they have accepted it, they should take actions against those involved in it. Our strategy to combat terrorism is quite clear. Whenever Pakistan tries to do something in Indian territory, our security forces are ready to fight them back.