PM Modi responds to Uri Attack, to isolate Pak diplomatically

​NEW DELHI: Pakistan must be diplomatically isolated at every international forum, it was decided today, said sources, at a meeting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi held with his most senior ministers to shape the government's response to Sunday's terror attack, in which 18 soldiers were killed at an Army base in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri.

Here are the latest developments in this big story:

India would present all actionable evidence if required at these forums, it was decided at the meeting, the sources said. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley attended.

Top sources said the government is clear that there must be a calibrated, multi-layered and strategic response from India to the attack. India, the sources said, could raise the Uri attack at the United Nations General Assembly, which is in session in New York.

Four terrorists from Pakistan sneaked into the Uri base early on Sunday morning and killed 17 soldiers before being shot dead in an intense three-hour gun battle. An 18th soldier died of his injuries today.
The bodies of the soldiers killed in the attack are being flown back to their homes today.

Preliminary investigation into the attack points firmly to Pakistani links, sources said. Apart from weapons and food with Pakistani markings seized from the terrorists, GPS trackers that they carried showed they had started from Pakistan.

The Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt General Ranbir Singh will hand over this evidence to his Pakistani counterpart as India takes up the matter strongly with Islamabad.

"We cannot take action on an emotional level," said minister of state for external affairs General VK Singh, who is a former Army chief, indicating that there will be no hasty move by the government.

Pakistan has denied any links with the attackers calling it a "baseless and irresponsible accusation," in a statement today.

A National Investigation Agency or NIA team has reached Uri to investigate the attack. The Army is also investigating how the terrorists breached a three-layered counter infiltration bid to cross the border and then the security at the Uri base.

The attack happened during a change of command at the base between two regiments - 6 Bihar and 10 Dogra. Sources said it was a well-planned terrorist strike and the attackers knew there would be more soldiers at the base at the time with one regiment leaving and another coming in.