BJP hails Army, PM's leadership; Rajnath speaks to Oppn leaders on surgical strike

New Delhi: The BJP on Thursday hailed the armed forces following the surgical strikes on terror launch pads across the LoC and lauded the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying his government believes in action and not words.

"A salute to armed forces and to the leadership of the Prime Minister for securing our borders and defending from Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. A responsible government acts and talks less. And that has been the practise of this government under Modi's leadership," party national secretary Sidharth Nath Singh said.

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad tweeted, "Proud of our armed forces for their heroic surgical strikes on terror launch pads. Surgical strikes were conducted when Pakistan did not mend ways after repeated diplomatic efforts to check terrorism originating frm their soil."

Meanwhile, as part of government's efforts to take all political parties on board, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday informed Chief Ministers of West Bengal, Odisha, Punjab and Bihar, and several opposition political leaders about the Army's surgical strike across the Line of Control.

Soon after the announcement of the surgical strike on the terror launch pads in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, the Home Minister informed Chief Ministers Mamata Banerjee, Naveen Patnaik, Parkash Singh Badal and Naveen Patnaik about the surgical strikes.

Singh also spoke to former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, CPI-M's Sitaram Yechury and informed them about the military action on terror launch pads, official sources said.

India conducted surgical strikes on terror launch pads on Wednesday night across the LoC and inflicted significant casualties and heavy damages.

The announcement of the sudden action by the army to target terrorists was made by DGMO Lt Gen Ranveer Singh.

BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "walked the talk".

"PM Modi Ji has walked the talk. Punishing the perpetrators of terror from across has begun," Madav wrote on twitter.

He took a dig at Pakistan for downplaying the surgical strikes conducted by Army across the LoC.

"Some Pak guys r trying 2 downplay claiming it was just a cross LoC firing", Madav Said.

"They y from Pak President to PM to Def Min vowin to protect Pak (sic)?" he said.

He complimented the Indian army for the operation.

"Army has done a great job. However Army has restrained to area specific," Madav said.

A surgical strike is a swift attack undertaken by military on specific target with aims to neutralise them while ensuring minimum collateral damage to the surrounding areas and civilians, and return to primary positions. It also prevents escalation to a full blown war.

These attacks can be carried out via air raids, airdropping special operation teams or a ground operation. All three Indian armed forces have their separate special ops teams. It requires detailed and extensive planning to carry out surgical strikes and achieve the objective. External intelligence is vital to carry out these strikes.