Congress supports Centre on surgical strikes across LoC

The Congress on Thursday said it supported the Narendra Modi government for carrying out surgical strikes on terrorist launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC), and congratulated the armed forces for the successful operation.

"The Congress stands with the government in its actions today (Thursday) to protect our country's security and deal with the menace of terrorism from across the border. It is a strong message that conveys our country's resolve to prevent further infiltration and attacks on our security forces and our people," party president Sonia Gandhi said in a statement issued here.

"The party expects that Pakistan will take effective action to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism it has supported and ensure that its territory and the territory under its control is not used for terrorist purposes against India," she added.

"The Congress congratulates the armed forces on the operation's success and offers its support to the government in our country's continuing battle against cross-border terrorism," the statement quoted her as saying.

Earlier in the day, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said: "The Congress wholeheartedly supports the surgical strike on terror (launch) pads in PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) by the Indian Army. Salute the valour of our armed forces," Surjewala said.

Congress leader Ahmed Patel too congratulated the Indian army. "We stand completely behind our armed forces," he said.

India's Director General of Military Operations Lt. General Ranbir Singh said the army carried out surgical strikes on terrorist launch pads across the LoC, inflicting heavy casualties on terrorists and their supporters.

The military action by India follows the September 18 attack by four terrorists at an army camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri, which led to the deaths of 18 soldiers.

--IANS

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