On 29 September 2016, teams of Indian Army commandos crossed the Line of Control into Pakistani-administered Kashmir to attack targets up to a kilometer within territory held by Pakistan.[12][13][14] The raid occurred ten days after four militants had attacked an Indian army outpost at Uri on 18 September 2016 in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, and killed 19 soldiers.[15] Estimates of casualties from India's cross-border attack varied widely, with figures of 12 to 70 being reported.[14][13] The Pakistani government eventually acknowledged the deaths of two soldiers and injuries to nine, while one Indian soldier was captured.[16]
The Indian Government termed the attack a surgical strike against "militant launch pads" in Pakistani territory, and claimed to have inflicted "significant casualties".[17] Pakistan rejected India's claim, and instead initially claimed that Indian troops did not cross the Line of Control and had only skirmished with Pakistani troops at the border,[4] although it subsequently admitted to having captured an Indian soldier.[13] Pakistani security sources reported that at least eight Indian soldiers were killed in the exchange, and one was captured.[18][19] India confirmed that one of its soldiers was in Pakistani custody, but denied that it was linked to the incident or that any of its soldiers had been killed.[20] Pakistan said India was hiding its casualties.[21]
Independent analysts pointed out that the Indian government's casualty figures were considerably exaggerated, with the true number being a dozen or fewer. They also criticised the usage of the term "surgical strike", pointing to the fact that no use of air transport was made, and the incursions did not penetrate deep into Pakistani territory.[12][13][14][22] Analysts wrote that the term "surgical strike" was used to portray the incident in a positive and nationalist light to the Indian public.[13][14][22] The Indian news media uncritically reported the Indian government's version of events, often discouraging skepticism of the "surgical strike": television coverage was militant and nationalist in nature.[14][23]
Media outlets noted that the details regarding the attack remained unclear.[24][25] India's announcement on 29 September marked the first time that the government had publicly acknowledged its forces crossing the Line of Control.[15][26] In the succeeding days and months, India and Pakistan continued to exchange fires along the border in Kashmir, resulting in dozens of military and civilian casualties on both sides.
- ^ a b c "Surgical strikes: Pakistan denial suits us for now, we will change tactics if provoked again, says top official". The Indian Express. 3 October 2016. Archived from the original on 3 October 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
inside_strikewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
says_hitswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
CNNwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "8 Indian soldiers killed, one captured, say TV reports". 29 September 2016.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
burieswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Uri avenged: 35–40 terrorists, 9 Pakistani soldiers killed in Indian surgical strikes". 29 September 2016.
- ^ Abbas, Syed Sammer (29 September 2016). "Army rubbishes Indian 'surgical strikes' claim as two Pakistani soldiers killed at LoC". Dawn. Archived from the original on 30 September 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ services, Tribune news. "India says it has carried out 'surgical strikes' against militants across Kashmir frontier". chicagotribune.com.
- ^ "Uri avenged: 35–40 terrorists, 9 Pakistani soldiers killed in Indian surgical strikes, say TV reports". 29 September 2016.
- ^ "4 hours, choppers and 38 kills: How India avenged the Uri attack". The Economic Times. 12 July 2018.
- ^ a b Khan, M Ilyas (22 October 2016). "India's 'surgical strikes' in Kashmir: Truth or illusion?". BBC News. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "Reversing roles". The Economist. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Sasikumar, Karthika (4 March 2019). "India's Surgical Strikes: Response to Strategic Imperatives" (PDF). The Round Table. 108 (2). Informa UK Limited: 159–174. doi:10.1080/00358533.2019.1591768. ISSN 0035-8533. S2CID 159140220.
- ^ a b Marszal, Andrew (30 September 2016). "India evacuates 10,000 from border with Pakistan amid reprisal fears after Kashmir 'strikes'". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ Masood, Salman (1 October 2016). "In Kashmir, Pakistan Questions India's 'Surgical Strikes' on Militants". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ^ "India's surgical strikes across LoC: Full statement by DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh". Hindustan Times. 29 September 2016. Archived from the original on 2 October 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Haider2was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Indian soldiers killed in clashes with Pakistan Army". The News. 29 September 2016. Archived from the original on 30 September 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
NDTVwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "India hiding casualties from cross border fire, Asim Bajwa says". The Express Tribune. 1 October 2016. Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
- ^ a b Singh, Sandeep (5 October 2016). "India's Surgical Strikes: Walking Into Pakistan's Trap?". The Diplomat. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ Pandit, Sushmita; Chattopadhyay, Saayan (2020). "Coverage of the Surgical Strike on Television News in India". Reimagining Journalism and Social Order in a Fragmented Media World. Routledge. pp. 156–170. doi:10.4324/9780429347245-11. ISBN 978-0-429-34724-5.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
BBC2was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
NYTwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Yousaf, Kamran (1 October 2016). "So-called surgical strike: Indian farce throws up a few challenges". Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 2 October 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.