PM Modi's assertion on Uri attack triggers speculation on India's options

The phrase "strong partnership" in the U.S. statement was a reiteration of secretary of state John Kerry remarks at a recent news briefing in New Delhi, where he had said, echoing India, that the USA "cannot and will not make distinction between good and bad terrorism".

Loud explosions were heard and several barracks caught fire in the initial hours of the attack.

Recounting the sequence of events, Lt Gen Singh said that four heavily armed terrorists had opened fire on an administrative base of the Army at Uri in Kashmir at approximately 05:30 hrs in the morning and the operation continued till around 08:30.

He said that the terrorists had fired incendiary ammunition along with automatic fire of small arms that led to Army tents and temporary shelters catching fire.

Kugelman said it could have been caused by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent comments about rights violations in Balochistan, the restive southwestern province of Pakistan.

Pakistan on Sunday rejected as "baseless" Indian accusations after the attack on an army base in the Indian-occupied Kashmir.

Bajwa reiterated that no infiltration was allowed from the Pakistani soil because of "water-tight arrangements" in place on both sides of LoC and the Working Boundary. "Strongly condemn the militant attack on Army base in Uri".

He cancelled trips to Russian Federation and the United States.

Indian-administered Kashmir has been gripped by unrest for more than two months, with protests that have prompted authorities to issue curfews and lock down large parts of the region. A sweeping military crackdown and near-constant curfew have followed.

At least 78 civilians have been killed and thousands injured in street clashes with the Indian security forces, who have been criticised by human rights groups for using excessive force, including shotguns that fire pellets that have blinded people. However, despite the alertness, the militants stuck from an unsuspecting area. The rebels managed to paralyze the massive base for almost four days, killing seven soldiers.

The attack in Kashmir appears opportunely timed as Islamabad faces worldwide scorn and condemnation over its support of proxy groups in the region; the attack also provides Nawaz Sharif with political fodder to lay the blame at India's feet for its mistreatment of Kashmiri citizens before the UN General Assembly next week.