Surgical Strikes: Full Text of Conversation That Exposed Pakistan

Q. Ghulam? How are you? IG Mushtaq speaking.
A.Sir, by god’s grace I am well.

Q. What is happening there? There is a lot of heat in your area.
A. Yes sir, along the border...as of now there isn’t much happening since the morning.

Q. This surgical surgical they are talking about...
A.That you are talking about, the 29th... the surgical strikes you are talking about... in that (only) three... three of ours have died... this is what the local (army authorities) have disclosed so far...

Q. But the other side is claiming 30-40 are dead
A. Yes, they are claiming too many... they have said there was major damage in the surgical strike... it is not as bad sir...but they (India) had opened up the border that night (29th sept).

Q. Yes, but no one went up to Athmuqam?
A. No sir, no one went to Athmuqam. But in Leepa, there were two (deaths), then in Adhira there were two (deaths) as well…

Q. In your estimate, how many died?
A. Sir, overall in the surgical strike, to be on the safer side, overall there were around 12 deaths... We can say 12.

Q. In one camp?
A. No sir, overall, not in one camp sir. As such information is very little sir, area is also cordoned off. Here as well as ahead (towards LoC)

Q. This surgical strike that happened...which camps were hit?
A. Leepa and Asmani in Bhimber... these were all army posts

Q. So in the army post, they killed 12...
A. Yes, sir total 12...

Q. Where have they been buried?
A. Sir in their villages... we are evaluating coffin boxes...

Q. So there are 12 coffins...
A. Yes sir... they from different areas... a couple going to one place, a couple to another...

Q. Tell me break-up of the deaths...
A. (Can be heard tellinghis office clerk in Punjabi) Get me that list...
...it is coming sir...

Q.Ok Ghulam... All the names are on the list?
A. No sir, not all names, some are there

Q. These are from the 29th (the day of the surgical strikes)?
A. Yes sir, from the 29th... the surgical strike they are talking about...

Q. Your line is getting cut... what is your land line number?
A. I am in the basement... take the landline 92xxxx... and the code is 05822 for Muzaffarabad...

Q. Your voice is clear. Can you please read out the file?
A. Sir, he is bringing the entire file, it will have all details of 29th with names...

Q. Have you got the file?
A. Yes sir

Q. Ok, tell me
A. (Gives the list of 5 Pakistani soldiers killed and the 9 injured in the surgical strikes. CNN-News18 has the full list including names, ranks and the sector/tehsils where they were killed. But our code of standards & practices prevent us from publishing the details)
A mosque has also been damaged. It is near the post in Leepa. These are all details of the 29th... when the surgical strike happened

Q. Tell me, on that day how long did the strike continue?
A. Sir, that was night... you can say roughly 3-4 hours... between 2am and 4am or 5am... the attack continued between that time...

Q. How many people did they have?
A. There is no confirmation of that sir...

Q. So they attacked one of our posts...
A. Sir, there were attacks on separate places... several places were attacked... they also met resistance sir...

Q.So what information do we have? How many of them (Indian forces) entered?
A. Sir, there is no one who is allowed to go there and no information is also coming from there on this...even the local authorities are not saying anything...

Q. But in your estimation, more than five are dead? you were saying 12 are dead?
A. Sir, these are from different places, not at one post...

Q. But what is local intelligence saying?
A. Sir, they are saying that bodies were put in ambulances and taken away... to their homes or wherever...

Q. Did locals die? And jihadis?
A. Sir, no locals died. But there is a probability that jihadis have been killed.

Q. So how many jihadis?
A. This information we are not getting sir, from anywhere.

Q. The army hides jihadis?
A. Sir, that happens...

Q. Do you think the army is not letting information about the jihadis out?
A. Yes sir, they do that, we know. This is why the area has been cordoned off...

Q. How many (jihadis) do you think may have died?
A. Difficult to say sir...

Q. Still, in your estimation...
A. Sir, it could be... on the basis of crossing (the LoC)... from different areas... some 5-6...

Q. Every camp has 5-6?
A. Yes sir, that is the number that crosses over (the LoC)... even 4 or 3 or 2.

Q. So if they (Indian forces) attacked in 4-5 places... there could have been up to 20 killed?
A. Sir, it is difficult to say... but we can say that these were their launching ways...

Q. Whose launching ways were they?
A. These... lashkaris... (jihadis)

Q. So do you also keep the lashkaris (jihadis) with you?
A. No sir, no... this is done by them... the army

Q. Who brings them?
A. the army brings them sir... it is in their hands...

(At this point, as the conversation wound down, CNN-News18 wanted to once again confirm the name and rank of the official in his own words)
Q. Ok then... can you identify yourself?
A. I am sir, special branch...

Q. What is your full name?
A. Ghulam Akbar

Q. What is your designation?
A. SP, special branch...

Also Read: Surgical Strikes: Despite Days of Doctoring by Pakistan, Here's Proof From Across LoC