NEW DELHI, July 27:
Describing the terrorist strike in Gurdaspur as “serious”, Government today ordered the Border Security Force to find out how the terrorists could breach the International Border despite heightened security.
“I don’t know whether it is big or small. It is serious,” National Security Advisor Ajit Doval told reporters here after a high-level meeting which took stock of the situation in the country.
He was replying to a question on whether the Gurdaspur incident was a big terror attack.
The meeting, chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, directed the BSF to remain in high alert and find out how the three terrorists could breach the IB and entered India from Pakistan.
“It is a serious violation and the BSF, which guards the IB, has been asked to find out how did the border was breached despite vigil and fencing,” a senior official, who was privy to the discussion, said.
The high-level meeting was attended by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Doval, Union Home Secretary L C Goyal, BSF Director General D K Pathak and top officials of para-military forces and intelligence agencies.
After the meeting, an official spokesperson said the Home Minister appreciated the operation of the Punjab Government and various measures were discussed to prevent recurrence of such incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, Rajnath Singh said India wants to have cordial relations with Pakistan but will give a befitting reply if national pride is challenged.
Singh said he was was unable to understand why cross- border terror incidents were continuing unabated despite India wanting “good relations” with Pakistan.
“I cannot understand why time and again cross-border terror incidents are taking place when we want good relations with our neighbour (Pakistan). I want to tell our neighbour that we want peace but not at the cost of our national pride.
“I have said this earlier and I will say it again that while we will not be the first to attack or fire, but if challenged, will give a befitting reply (muh tod jawab),” he said.
Meanwhile, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today condemned the terror attack in Punjab saying such terrorist attacks will be handled with iron hand.
“Attack on innocent people in Dinanagar is a highly condemnable & cowardice act of enemies of peace, which shall be handled with iron hand,” he tweeted. (PTI)
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