Putting up a brave face, Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman assured that India would ‘retaliate’ in equal terms for Pakistan’s misadventure in carrying out an attack on Sunjuwan Military Station in Jammu & Kashmir last week.

Billed as one of the worst terrorist attacks on Indian security forces in the past few months, the pre-dawn attack by Pakistan-sponsored Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists left five security men and the father of one of the soldiers dead and ten persons (including women and children) injured. “Soldiers’ sacrifice won’t go in vain; we would ensure that Pakistan pays the price for its misadventure at a time of our choice,” she said.

Pakistan, in the meanwhile, has denied its ‘hand’ in the attack and urged India not to ‘jump’ to conclusions without a full-fledged inquiry. “We are aware that Pakistan has been expanding its terror arc till Pir Panjal ranges. We also know that the terrorists were sponsored by Pakistan and its administration. The evidences would be given to Pakistan which didn’t act in the past on many such proof-filled dossiers,” she added.

Three terrorists were killed in Sunjuwan when security forces retaliated the attack, she informed. She also feared ‘local support’ for the terrorists who might have infiltrated a few days back to study the locality prior to the attack.