Army helps terrorists cross over to India, reveals Pakistan police officer

Islamabad: In a major breakthrough in the controversy involving surgical strikes on terror launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), a Pakistani officer has admitted that India indeed carried out the strikes and even killed five soldiers along with several terrorists.

The revelation comes amid Pakistan military's allegations that India never carried out the strikes and that it was in fact cross-border firing.

According to a CNN News18 report, Ghulam Akbar, the Superintendent of Police (Special Branch) of the Mirpur Range in PoK, said that the strikes took place early morning on September 29.

The report stated that one of CNN's journalist posed as the Inspector General of Police Mushtaq while speaking with Akbar over the phone, where he revealed all the information.

In response to a question on surgical strikes, he said that Pakistan army was caught by surprise when five of its soldiers were killed. They then put the dead bodies in ambulances and took them away.

"Sir, that was night...you can say roughly 3-4 hours... between 2 am and 4 or 5 am... the attack continued between that time," Akbar was quoted as saying in the report.

He also mentioned names of few places that were targeted by strikes. Samana in Bhimber, Hazira in Poonch, Dudhniyal in Neelam and Kayani in Hathian Bala were some of the places mentioned by him.

Akbar also went on to say that Pakistan army facilitates terrorist movement and also arranges for them to cross over to India.

"The Army brings them, sir... it is in their hands," he said, adding that the army protects jihad infrastructure and maintains a distance from police as well as local authorities.