Kashmir unrest: Pak firing from shoulders of Hurriyat leaders, says Nirmal Singh

Calicut (Kerala) [India], Sept. 24 (ANI): Taking a strong exception to Pakistan for the recent Uri terror attack that claimed the lives of as many as 18 soldiers, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh on Saturday said Islamabad is firing the gun from the shoulders of the Hurriyat leaders and it is solely responsible for the killings in the Valley. "Pakistan is firing the gun from the shoulders of the Hurriyat leaders and Uri was their direct act and they are talking like this to hide that. Pakistan is giving shelter to proclaimed terrorists like Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and Sayeed Salahudeen. Pakistan is responsible for the situation in Kashmir," Singh told ANI. Singh further asserted that it was Pakistan's cowardice and desperation which it wanted to hide. "Since 1947, Pakistan tried to de-stabilize Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan is solely responsible for the killings there. Pakistan is making the whole strategy for violence," he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier today met with the Indian Army, Air Force Chiefs of Staff and Naval Vice Admiral to discuss the prevailing security conditions. Besides discussing the prevailing security situation in the country, discussions were also held on India's response to the Uri attack, in which New Delhi has held Islamabad responsible. Asserting that Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif left with an empty bag and with no support at the United Nations following his speech where he glorified Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, India's permanent representative to the UN, Syed Akbaruddin said that India's main issue of focus was terrorism and that there is a crescendo of support for counter-terrorism at the UN General Assembly. Last Sunday, a militant attack on an army base in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, has claimed the lives of eighteen soldiers. While 17 soldiers died on Sunday, the army confirmed that one more critically injured soldier succumbed to his injuries on Thursday, pushing the death toll to 18. The armed militants lobbed grenades into their tents and barracks, while the soldiers were sleeping. The ensuing fire led to a large number of casualties. Twenty-eight injured soldiers are being treated at a military hospital. While addressing at the 71st session UNGA, Pakistan Prime Minister Sharif said, "Burhan Wani, the young leader murdered by Indian forces, has emerged as the symbol of the latest Kashmiri Intifada, a popular and peaceful freedom movement, led by Kashmiris." The Prime Minister also extended support to the demands of Kashmiri people for self determination and called on the UN Security Council to hold free and fair plebiscite. He further demanded an independent inquiry and a UN fact finding mission to investigate the situation in Kashmir. (ANI)