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India carries out 'surgical strikes' in Pakistan's Kashmir; Pakistan downplays

By Andrew V. Pestano
The Indian military on Wednesday carried out what it called "surgical strikes" against targets it considers "terrorists" in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir. Pakistan on Thursday said the incident was only a exchange of small-arms fire that killed two Pakistani soldiers. In this image, Indian soldiers carry out training exercises during a joint operation with the United States. Photo courtesy of Indian Ministry of Defense
The Indian military on Wednesday carried out what it called "surgical strikes" against targets it considers "terrorists" in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir. Pakistan on Thursday said the incident was only a exchange of small-arms fire that killed two Pakistani soldiers. In this image, Indian soldiers carry out training exercises during a joint operation with the United States. Photo courtesy of Indian Ministry of Defense

NEW DELHI, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- India's military on Thursday said it carried out "surgical strikes" in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir against alleged "terrorists" who were planning attacks on Indian territory.

India's director general of military operations, Lt. Gen. Ranbir Singh, said India received "very credible and specific information" on Wednesday that militants located in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir were planning attacks on Indian-controlled Kashmir and "in various other metros in our country."

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"Significant casualties have been caused to the terrorists and those who are trying to support them," Singh said in New Delhi.

Indian officials said Wednesday night's attack was in response to two militant attacks on Indian positions in September, including one in which 18 Indian soldiers were killed when militants stormed an army base near the Pakistani border -- an attack Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said would "not go unpunished."

The circumstances surrounding India's purported cross-border attack are not fully clear. India and Pakistan both contest the Kashmir Valley, which has led to two wars over control of the territory since its independence from Britain in 1947.

After India's announcement of the "surgical strikes," Pakistan said no such strikes took place -- calling India's announcement a "fabrication" and saying only "unprovoked" small-arms fire occurred along the border in which two Pakistani soldiers were killed and nine injured.

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Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said his country will respond "forcefully" if India launches another cross-border attack.

"If India tries to do this again, we will respond forcefully," Asif said in a statement. "India is doing this only to please their media and public."

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