India briefs foreign diplomats, hands over dossier on Nagrota incident

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NEW DELHI: India on Monday briefed foreign diplomats and expressed concern about Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in the backdrop of another foiled terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Nagrota district.
According to sources, Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla briefed a select group of Heads of Missions (HOMs) on the planned terrorist attack, which was foiled by Indian forces on November 19.
The foreign secretary is believed to have discussed the implications of the incident on security and diplomacy in the Jammu and Kashmir region, and also on the battle against terrorism. A dossier with complete details about the recent Nagrota incident was also handed over to the HOMs.
It may be noted that this is the first of several briefings to be conducted by the Ministry of External Affairs in small groups, in view of the Covid-19 situation at the moment. Other secretaries will also be briefing the HOMs in their areas of jurisdiction.
Sources said that the HOMs were provided with a detailed information docket, where details of the Nagrota incident was mentioned. The docket also included a list of items and ammunition that was recovered from the terrorists, clearly indicating that they originated from Pakistan.
The HOMs were briefed on how the terrorists got into India through an underground tunnel in the Samba sector. They were further briefed on how preliminary probe markings on the recovered AK-47 rifles and other items showed that the terrorists belonged to Pakistan-based terror group, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).
It was highlighted that the November 19 incident is part of Pakistan’s ongoing terror campaign in Jammu and Kashmir and that in the year 2020, there have been 200 incidents of terror-related violence and neutralisation of 199 terrorists.
Details of JeM’s involvement in previous such incidents were also shared. India also informed that it was clear that the terrorists were planning the “biggest terror” attack in the country since the tragic Pulwama attack in February 2019.
“This is part of ongoing efforts to sabotage the DDC elections and to carry out a terror attack aimed to coincide with the anniversary of 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes,” India informed the HOMs.
India further expressed concern regarding Pakistan’s sustained efforts to destabilise the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and subvert local DDC elections. (Agency)