Rajnath blames 'terrorist state' Pakistan for Uri killings

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday blamed "terrorist state" Pakistan for the killing of 17 soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir and called for its isolation.

"I am deeply disappointed with Pakistan's continued and direct support to terrorism and terrorist groups. Pakistan is a terrorist state and it should be identified and isolated as such," Rajnath Singh tweeted.

Heavily-armed terrorists sneaked into an army camp in Uri and slaughtered the 17 soldiers before all four attackers were killed.

The minister said there were "definite and conclusive indications that the perpetrators of (the) Uri attack were highly trained, heavily armed and specially equipped".

He said he was "deeply distressed" and prayed "for the speedy recovery of the injured".

"My heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyred soldiers. Those behind this terror incident would be brought to justice."

Rajnath Singh earlier presided over a security review meeting attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Home Secretary Rajiv Mehershi and senior civil and security officials.

The minister was briefed on various implications of the attack.

Officials shared intelligence inputs on "nefarious" activities planned by a "neighbouring country", sources privy to the meeting said.

They said the government believed that the attack "was a clear case of cross-border attack". However, no terror group was named.

Rajnath Singh also spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. He postponed his visits to Russia and the US.

Rajnath Singh was scheduled to visit to Russia to discuss India's campaign against terrorism, including on the role of Pakistan.

The minister was to begin from September 26 his week-long visit to the US for an Indo-US Homeland Security Dialogue.

--IANS

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