NEW DELHI: Even as the shock of the Uri terror attack was sinking in, the Central government has decided to launch a diplomatic offensive to isolate Pakistan on international forums. Meanwhile, condemnation of the dastardly attack that has caused the largest number of casualties of Indian security personnel in a single day in Kashmir poured in from across the globe.
The ongoing UN General Assembly was expected to witness a verbal conflagration between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue, but the Uri attack has further vitiated the atmosphere between the two arch rivals. Indian diplomats will be armed with actionable evidence against Islamabad to be presented at the international bodies if the need arises.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who has already reached New York, is expected to raise the Kashmir issue during his speech. The Indian Permanent Mission would be issuing a statement after his
address. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will be leaving for the UNGA on September 24 and will be addressing the Assembly on September 26. Swaraj will be taking on Pakistan as all preliminary evidence in the Uri attack is pointing towards it.
The decision to avoid a knee-jerk reaction was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by the Prime Minister at his official residence to assess the situation. The meeting was attended by Union Home
Minister Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Army chief Dalbir Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and other officials.
Meanwhile, Russia, the UN Secretary General and France have condemned the Uri attack even as the toll in the attack climbed to 18 on Monday.
Condemning the attack, Russia expressed concern over “intensified” terrorist attacks along the Line of Control. “It is also worrisome that, according to New Delhi information, the Uri military unit was attacked from Pakistani territory,” Russia said in a statement. It had earlier cancelled a military exercise with Pakistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after concerns were raised by India.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon hoped the perpetrators of the crime would be brought to justice. "The United Nations is following the developments closely and shares the concerns of people living in the region for peace," said a statement issued by Ban's spokesperson in New York.
A French Foreign Ministry statement also condemned the attack saying, "France most firmly condemns the terrible terrorist attack perpetrated on 18 September against an Indian army camp in the
region of Kashmir. It conveys its condolences to the families of the 17 Indian soldiers killed in this attack."
"France remains at India's side in the combat against terrorism. It calls on every state to fight effectively against terrorist groups operating on their territory or from their territory against other countries," it said.