PM Modi meets armed forces top brass to discuss India’s response to Uri attack

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the top brass of the armed forces on Saturday, the second time he has met top defence officials chiefs following the militant attack on an army in Jammu and Kashmir last week.

Reports indicated that the meeting was held at the ‘war room’ of the South Block — used exclusively for briefing the Prime Minister on critical military situations.

Though the Prime Minister’s Office and the armed forces were tight-lipped about the meeting, sources said the discussions centred around the Uri attack that had left 18 soldiers dead and an equal number injured.

Army chief Dalbir Singh, air force chief Arup Raha and vice chief of naval staff Karambir Singh were present along with national security advisor Ajit Doval.

The meet is also understood to have discussed increasing infiltration attempts by suspected militants from across the border in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Uri attack has led to a nationwide clamour for a military response against militant outfits based in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

In the meeting, Modi is understood to have weighed an effective response to Pakistan’s support to militant groups targeting India. Following the Uri attack, Modi had said that the Uri attackers will “not go unpunished”.

With India ratcheting up the ante against Pakistan, reports said Islamabad was also readying its military for any possible cross-border strikes by Indian forces.

Sources said Modi attended the meeting before leaving for Kerala to attend the BJP’s national executive.