NEW DELHI: Amidst the highly-charged atmosphere following the Uri attack that killed 18 soldiers, the Narendra Modi government is working on a plan to give a befitting reply to Pakistan.
“We all know the national mood. And this government respects national sentiments,” said a top government functionary. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already given a ‘free hand’ to security forces dealing with Pakistan along the Line of Control, followed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar making it clear that the perpetrators of Uri attack will not go ‘unpunished’.
The NDA government has declared that the policy of strategic restraint is now over and that more proactive measures need to be taken against Pakistan.
“We have directed local commanders to take strongest possible action to handle any infiltration bid on the border. Response to any attempt from across the border should be responded with full power,” said an official.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the three Service Chiefs at his residence on Saturday morning to discuss the situation emerging after the “cowardly act” of Uri attack. This was the sixth meeting of the PM with the heads of the armed forces along with the National Security Advisor and chiefs of intelligence agencies after last Sunday’s attack.
The War Room in the South Block is also busy with hectic developments over the last six days as several rounds of meetings are taking place with top Generals of the Army.
Northern Army Commander Lt Gen D S Hooda was in New Delhi to brief the Army chief and NSA over the deployment pattern on the Line of Control.