Jalandhar: Asserting that the perepetrators of the Uri attack would be punished, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said India will intensify diplomatic efforts to isolate Pakistan internationally.
Holding Pakistan responsible for the attack, in which 17 armymen were killed and 19 injured, he said "since independence, Pakistan has not accepted Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India and this is the reason that terror attacks happen in the country with its support."
"These are challenges to our security," Jaitley said, condemning the terrorist attack on a camp at Army's Brigade Headquarters in Uri that left 17 security personnel dead.
".. Pathankot and Uri (terror attacks) appear to indicate that these (fidayeen attacks) have restarted again. And I think this is a major challenge which I am sure our security forces will gear up to respond," he told reporters here.
Later, he tweeted "Perpetrators of Uri terror attack shall be punished. My thoughts & prayers are with families of our soldiers injured & martyred."
"Uri terror attack is a highly condemnable act of cowardice. Salute to our soldiers who gave supreme sacrifice to protect the motherland."
Earlier, Jaitley said in recent years there had been an increasing reliance "on activities like stone throwing agitations" which were instigated from across the border.
He said the terror attacks "have nothing to do with complexion of the governments in power at the Centre."
Replying to a question, he said, "such (like Uri attack) security situations are handled by security forces... On the basis of political statements, response is not given".
Asked about a recent statement of Pakistan Defence Minister that if his country needs to use nuclear weapons for their survival they will, Jaitley said "this is an irresponsible statement. Such statements are condemnable and the world also does not accept such threats."
Heavily armed militants stormed a battalion headquarters of the Army in North Kashmir's Uri town in the wee hours today, killing 17 jawans and injuring 19 other personnel in the strike in which four ultras were neutralised.
