Lok Sabha Question No. 590 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-18
Subject: Surgical Strikes
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Dr. BHOLA SINGH, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVNTHI), P. C. MOHAN, KURUPPASSERY VARKEY THOMAS, SUDHEER GUPTA, LALLU SINGH, SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, SUKENDER REDDY GUTHA, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, RAM KUMAR SHARMA KUSHWAHA, BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, ASADUDDIN OWAISI, BHARATENDRA SINGH, M. K. RAGHAVAN, VINOD KUMAR BOIANAPALLI, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA, RAJENDRA AGRAWAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.590

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18 TH  NOVEMBER, 2016

## SURGICAL STRIKES

590. DR. BHOLA SINGH:

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

SHRI MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASARAO (AVANTHI):

SHRI P.C. MOHAN:

PROF. K.V. THOMAS:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI LALLU SINGH:

DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD:

SHRI GUTHA SUKENDER REDDY:

SHRI  T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

SHRI RAM KUMAR SHARMA:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

KUNWAR BHARATENDRA:

SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN:

SHRI B. VINOD KUMAR:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA:

SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Indian Army special forces carried out the surgical strikes on terrorist hideout / launch pads in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir recently;
- (b) if so, the number of terrorist camps destroyed along with the number of terrorists killed during the said strike; and

- (c) the other steps taken / being taken to stop infiltration and terrorist attacks across Indian borders?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

र  ा रा य मं ी

(DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)

(डा. सुभाष भामरे)

(a) & (b): Continuing and increasing infiltration by terrorists across Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir has been a matter of serious concern to Government.  This is reflected in the terrorist attacks at Poonch and Uri on 11 th and 18 th September, 2016 respectively.  During these terrorist attacks and  infiltration  attempts,  Army  has  recovered  items  including  Global Positioning  Systems  and  stores  which  have  had  Pakistani  markings. Further,  captured  terrorists  hailing  from  Pakistan  or  Pakistani  occupied Kashmir  have  confessed  to  their  training  and  arming  in  Pakistan  or territory  under  the  control  of  Pakistan.    Despite  the  matter  having  been taken up at highest diplomatic levels and through military channels to urge Pakistan to respect its January 2004 commitment for not allowing its soil or territory under its control to be used for terrorism against India, there has been no let up in infiltration or terrorist action inside Indian territory.

Based on receiving specific and credible inputs about some terrorist teams having positioned themselves at launch pads along Line of Control to carry out infiltration and conduct terrorist strikes in Jammu and Kashmir and in various metros in other States, the Indian Army conducted surgical strikes on 29 th September, 2016 at several of these launch pads to pre-empt infiltration by terrorists.

The  operations  were  focussed  on  ensuring  that  these  terrorists  do not succeed in their design to cause destruction and endanger the lives of our citizens. During these counter terrorist operations significant casualties were caused to terrorists and those providing support to them.

- (c) In  Jammu  &  Kashmir  along  the  Line  of  Control  (LC),  Army  has adopted robust counter infiltration strategy which has an appropriate mix of technology  and  human  resources  to  check  infiltration effectively. Innovative  troop  deployment,  proactive  use  of  surveillance,  monitoring devices and the Anti Infiltration Obstacle System have enhanced the ability to detect and intercept terrorists attempting to infiltrate / exfiltrate.

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