Take action against terrorist groups operating on your soil: Pompeo tells Pakistan

" Following Indian counter-terrorism actions on February 26, I spoke with Indian Minister of External Affairs Swaraj to emphasize our close security partnership and shared goal of maintaining peace and security in the region. I also spoke to Pakistani Foreign Minister Qureshi to underscore the priority of de-escalating current tensions by avoiding military action, and the urgency of Pakistan taking meaningful action against terrorist groups operating on its soil," Pompeo said in a statement.

Pompeo also asked India and Pakistan to "exercise restraint" amid heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations following the Pulwama attack.

"I expressed to both Ministers that we encourage India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, and avoid escalation at any cost. I also encouraged both Ministers to prioritize direct communication and avoid further military activity," Pompeo said.

Paying back Pakistan days after the Pulwama terror attack which left over 40 Indian paramilitary personnel dead, the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted a pre-dawn surgical strike across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) destroying what it called the biggest camp of terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).

The Pulwama attack was carried out by Pakistan-based militant organisation, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) on Feb 14 in Kashmir, triggering a nationwide outrage in India with Prime Minister Narendra Modi swearing that the perpetrators would not go unpunished.

The Indian government on Tuesday said the Indian Air Force (IAF) had carried out a "non-military pre-emptive" surgical strike across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Briefing the media, India's foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale said it was a non-military pre-emptive strike aimed at Jaish camps.

He said India repeatedly urged Pakistan to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism on its soil but without any action.

"A pre-emptive strike became absolutely necessary," he said even as government sources were quoted in media claiming that about 300 militants were killed in the pre-dawn strikes in which 1,000 kg bombs were dropped on Jaish bases across the LoC by multiple jets, including 12 IAF’s Mirage 2000 that took off from Gwalior.

Justifying the action, Gokhale said: "India has been repeatedly urging Pakistan to take action against the JeM to prevent jihadis from being trained and armed inside Pakistan. Pakistan has taken no concrete actions to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism on its soil.

"Credible intelligence was received that JeM was attempting another suicide terror attack in various parts of the country, and the fidayeen jihadis were being trained for this purpose. In the face of imminent danger, a preemptive strike became absolutely necessary."

Pakistan denies but asks its forces to remain prepared:

Pakistan's defence spokesperson, however, claimed in a tweet soon after the attack: "Indian aircrafts’ intrusion across LOC in Muzafarabad Sector within AJ&K was 3-4 miles.Under forced hasty withdrawal aircrafts released payload which had free fall in open area. No infrastructure got hit, no casualties. Technical details and other important information to follow."

Rejecting India's claims of surgical strike, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's party PTI said on Twitter, "Once again Indian government has resorted to a self serving, reckless and fictitious claim."

Khan has asked his armed forces and people to remain prepared for all eventualities.

Image: Mike Pompeo Twitter page