New Delhi: Foreign Secretary Harsh V. Shringla Monday briefed envoys of P-5 countries on the encounter that took place last week in Jammu and Kashmir in which four suspected Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists were killed, ThePrint has learnt.
This comes after the Modi government expressed “serious concerns” over continued terror attacks by Pakistan-based JeM, a terrorist organisation proscribed by the United Nations and other countries, against India.
Briefing the envoys from P-5 countries on the encounter and how the terror attempt was foiled by India, the foreign secretary urged them to keep the pressure on Pakistan to adhere to its international obligations and bilateral commitments of not allowing any territory under its control to be used for terrorism against India or any other country, top level sources told ThePrint.
P-5 countries, or permanent five, are those that are permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) — the US, UK, Russia, France and China.
Envoys from other countries such as Japan were also briefed as they were keen to understand what led to the situation and how such incidents can be prevented in the future, sources said.
On 19 November, four JeM terrorists were killed and two policemen injured in a gun battle in Nagrota after a truck carrying newly infiltrated militants were intercepted, according to Jammu and Kashmir Police.
Envoys given information dockets
Sources said the envoys were handed over information dockets and the briefing was done in-person by the foreign secretary, albeit in smaller groups due to Covid-19 protocols.
Sources told ThePrint the information dockets contained details of the incident as it transpired as well as a list of items and ammunition that were recovered from the terrorists, clearly indicating their Pakistani origins.
The envoys were also briefed on how the terrorists entered India, which is now clear through the discovery of an underground tunnel in the Samba sector.
It was also shared how preliminary investigations by police and intelligence authorities, markings on the recovered AK-47 rifles and other items led India to believe that the terrorists belonged to JeM, sources added.
Shringla also informed the envoys that it was clear that the terrorists were planning the biggest terror attack in India since the February 2019 Pulwama attack and the implications can be guessed.
The envoys were also told that this is part of Pakistan’s efforts to sabotage the District Development Council elections in J&K and to carry out a terror attack aimed to coincide with the anniversary of the 26/11 strikes in Mumbai, added sources.
Also read: BSF finds 150-metre underground border tunnel ‘used by terrorists to enter India’
JeM has been part of several attacks in India: MEA
On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a review meeting with top security brass on the incident and asserted that security forces have thwarted their efforts to wreak “major havoc and destruction”.
India had even summoned senior Pakistani diplomat Jawad Ali last week and lodged a “strong protest”.
It was demanded that Pakistan “desists from its policy of supporting terrorists and terror groups operating from its territory and dismantle the terror infrastructure operated by terrorist outfits to launch attacks in other countries”, according to a statement issued last Saturday by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
“The JeM has been part of several attacks in India in the past, including the Pulwama attack in February 2019. The huge cache of arms, ammunition and explosive material indicate detailed planning for a major attack to destabilise the peace and security in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, in particular, to derail the ongoing democratic exercise of conduct of local District Development Council elections,” the MEA added.
The Imran Khan government in Pakistan, meanwhile, categorically rejected India’s “groundless allegations”, said a statement by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Also read: Pakistan using underground tunnels to push terrorists, drones to drop arms, J&K DGP says