SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday strongly condemned the deadly militant attack on army base camp in Uri saying the attack seems to be aimed at triggering fresh violence and creating a war-like situation in the region.
Mehbooba expressed anguish over the attack and paid rich tributes to the slain army men. She extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and also prayed for early recovery of those injured in the attack.
At least 17 army men were killed and 30 others injured in deadliest militant attack on army’s brigade headquarters in Uri, close to Line of Control in North Kashmir today.
Mehbooba said the heightened tension in the wake of Uri attack is set to further vitiate the atmosphere in and around Jammu and Kashmir amid increasing Indo-Pak hostility.
“Unfortunately, people in Jammu and Kashmir, who are already mired in an agonizing situation shall have to bear the maximum brunt of the fresh attempts being made to step up violence and trigger fresh bloodshed in the State,” she said adding J&K has always been the worst victim of Indo-Pak hostility and its people have been paying a colossal price for the same for the past over six decades.
Mehbooba said perpetrators of violence must understand that violent methods have yielded nothing in the past nor will these yield anything in future except adding to the miseries of the people.
The former Chief Minister and opposition National Conference Working President Omar Abdullah also strongly condemned the attack on Army brigade headquarters in Uri.
“This is a highly condemnable and tragic incident. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the slain jawans, who have lost their lives and pray for the speedy recovery of those who have sustained injuries in the attack”, Omar said.
The J&K BJP, which is coalition partner of Mehbooba Mufti led government in the State, termed the militant attack as an act of cowardice by Pakistan and reflection of frustration.
State President and MLA Sat Sharma along with Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh chaired an emergency meeting of BJP leaders at Katra in Jammu and discussed the situation.
While condemning the attack, the BJP leaders said the party and the entire nation stand with the bereaved families, whose sons gave sacrifices for the motherland.
“The nation will always remember them,” they said and termed the militant attack as an act of cowardice by Pakistan and reflection of frustration.
They further observed that during last over three months, Pakistan has been exposed at the international level for its act of pushing trained militants into Indian territory.
The BJP leaders were of the view the time has come for central government to adopt a decisive strategy to give Pakistan a befitting reply for what it has been doing in Kashmir under proxy war.