ugc_banner

Pulwama attack: India says Islamabad cannot be blind to JeM presence in its soil

WION
New Delhi, Delhi, IndiaWritten By: Sidhant SibalUpdated: Feb 16, 2019, 08:16 AM IST
main img
File photo. Photograph:(PTI)

Story highlights

The Indian government also alleged that Pakistan ministers had shared stage with UN proscribed terrorists

India slammed Pakistan Foreign Secretary (FS) Tehmina Janjua on Friday after the latter in his briefing to ambassador of permanent five (P5) members of United Nations security council (UNSC) rejected Pakistan's involvement in the Pulwama attack.  

The ministry of external affairs in a release said, "JeM has claimed responsibility for the attack. The organisation and its leadership are located in Pakistan. LeT and other terror groups have welcomed the news of the attack. These groups are also based in Pakistan. Pakistan cannot claim that it is unaware of their presence and their activities."

"They have not taken any action against these groups despite international demands, especially against groups and individuals proscribed by the UN and other countries. The links to Pakistan are clear and evident for all to see," the release further said. 

The Indian government alleged that Pakistan ministers had shared stage with UN proscribed terrorists.

Pakistani ministers have been sharing dais with terrorist 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed. In September 2018 Pakistan's Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Minister Noor-ul-Haq Qadri shared a platform with Hafiz Saeed, with both making anti-India statements.

Last year a video surfaced in which Pakistan's Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi had openly expressed the support of current Imran Khan administration to Hafiz Saeed and his organization. 

In the first week of February Hafiz Saeed carried out a massive rally in Lahore.

India also rejected Pakistan's demand for an "investigation" since a there exists video of the suicide bomber declaring himself a member of the JeM. Audio-visual and print material linking JeM to the terrorist attack is present too which MEA said leaves "no doubt that the claim is firmly established."

Pakistani FS also talked about constructive approach towards India which was also rejected by New Delhi. 

MEA said, 'What we have noticed, however, are claims to offer dialogue on the one hand, while  sponsoring and sheltering terrorists and terrorist organizations such as JeM on the other."

India's official stance on Pakistan has been talks and terror cant go together but talks on terror can happen. 

Reiterating its stance on strong action on terrorist safe havens MEA demanded "Pakistan take immediate and verifiable action against terrorists and terror groups operating from territories"

Meanwhile, India on Friday briefed about Pakistan's involvement in Pulwama attack to P5 countries along with South Asian countries, Japan and Germany. 

On Saturday, India will be briefing ASEAN ambassadors about the incident.