The Army Chief said the army will give proportionate response to all acts of infringement of ceasefire and support to terrorism

Lashing out at Pakistan for pushing terrorists inside India, Army Chief General MM Naravane on Monday said onus remained on Islamabad to bring peace in the region.

“Pakistan is still following its own myopic and limited agenda of pushing terrorists inside India. Unless Pakistan gives up its policy of state-sponsored terrorism, we will continue to respond appropriately and with precision,” the Army Chief was quoted by a news agency as saying.

Paying his tribute to five security personnel who were killed in a gun battle with terrorists at Handwara in Jammu and Kashmir, he said India is proud of five security personnel who laid down lives saving civilians from terrorists at Handwara.

“I wish to convey my heartfelt condolences and gratitude to the valiant braves of our Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police. Commanding Officer Col Ashutosh Sharma led from the front and ensured there was no collateral damage during operation,” General Naravane said.

He also said that the army will give proportionate response to all acts of infringement of ceasefire and support to terrorism. The Army chief added infiltration attempts show that Pakistan is not interested in battling Covid-19, which has led to hundreds of death in the country.

A Colonel, a Major and three other security forces personnel were killed in an encounter with terrorists in north Kashmir’s Handwara on Sunday. This was the biggest loss to the Army in recent years.

Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Major Anuj Sood, Naik Rajesh Kumar, Lance Naik Dinesh Singh and sub-inspector of Jammu-Kashmir police Shakeel Qazi were martyred in the line of duty while rescuing civilians held hostage by the terrorists.

In the Handwara encounter, two terrorists were also shot dead by the security forces.