India Tuesday rubbished Prime Minister Imran Khan's comments on the ghastly Pulwama attack, saying disclaiming Pakistan's link with terrorist attacks is an oft-repeated excuse by the "nerve centre" of terrorism.
India Tuesday rubbished Prime Minister Imran Khan's comments on the ghastly Pulwama attack, saying disclaiming Pakistan's link with terrorist attacks is an oft-repeated excuse by the "nerve centre" of terrorism.
India's seven-point hard hitting response came hours after Khan said he would act against the perpetrators of the Pulwama attack if India shares "actionable intelligence", but warned against any retaliatory action.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said India was not surprised that Khan refused to acknowledge the attack on India's security forces in Pulwama as an act of terrorism, adding his offer to investigate the attack if provided proof is a "lame excuse".
"Disclaiming any link between the terrorist attack and Pakistan is an oft-repeated excuse by Pakistan. The Pakistani Prime Minister has ignored claims made by the Jaish-e-Mohammad, as well as by the terrorist, who perpetrated this heinous crime," the MEA said.
"It is a well-known fact that Jaish-e-Mohammad and its leader Masood Azhar are based in Pakistan. These should be sufficient proof for Pakistan to take action," it said.
In a video message, Khan responded to the Indian allegations on Pakistan's involvement in the attack in Kashmir last Thursday.
"The Prime Minister of Pakistan has offered to investigate the matter if India provides proof. This is a lame excuse. In the horrific attack in Mumbai on 26/11, proof was provided to Pakistan. Despite this, the case has not progressed for the last more than 10 years.
Likewise, on the terror attack on Pathankot airbase, the MEA said, there has been no progress. "Promises of 'guaranteed action' ring hollow given the track record of Pakistan," the MEA said.
The MEA said Pakistan claimed to be the greatest victim of terrorism but this is far from truth. "The international community is well acquainted with the reality that Pakistan is the nerve centre of terrorism," the MEA said.
It also came down hard on the Pakistan prime minister for his comments linking India's upcoming general elections to the narrative of blaming Pakistan. He said it would make it easier to get votes from the masses.
"It is regrettable that the Pakistani Prime Minister has insinuated that India's response to the terrorist attack is determined by the forthcoming general election," the MEA said.
Rejecting the "false allegation", the MEA said India's democracy was a model for the world which Pakistan would never understand.
"We demand Pakistan to stop misleading the international community and take credible and visible action against the perpetrators of Pulwama terrorist attack and other terrorists and terror groups operating from areas under their control," it said.
On Khan's reference to build a new Pakistan, the MEA said, "In this 'Naya Pakistan,' ministers of the current government publicly share platforms with terrorists like Hafeez Saeed who have been proscribed by the United Nations." "Pakistan's Prime Minister has called for dialogue and expressed his readiness to talk about terrorism. India has repeatedly stated that it is ready to engage in a comprehensive bilateral dialogue in an atmosphere free from terror and violence," the MEA said.
1. 7 points made by India
)
1. We are not surprised that the Prime Minister of Pakistan refuses to acknowledge the attack on our security forces in Pulwama as an act of terrorism. Prime Minister of Pakistan has neither chosen to condemn this heinous act nor condoled with the bereaved families.
2. Disclaiming any link between the terrorist attack and Pakistan is an oft-repeated excuse by Pakistan. The Pakistani Prime Minister has ignored claims made by the Jaish-e-Mohammad, as well as by the terrorist, who perpetrated this heinous crime. It is a well-known fact that Jaish-e-Mohammad and its leader Masood Azhar are based in Pakistan. These should be sufficient proof for Pakistan to take action.
3. The Prime Minister of Pakistan has offered to investigate the matter if India provides proof. This is a lame excuse. In the horrific attack in Mumbai on 26/11, proof was provided to Pakistan. Despite this, the case has not progressed for the last more than 10 years. Likewise, on the terror attack on Pathankot airbase, there has been no progress. Promises of “guaranteed action” ring hollow given the track record of Pakistan.
4. The Prime Minister has referred to a “Naya Pakistan” with a new thinking. In this “Naya Pakistan”, Ministers of the current Government publicly share platforms with terrorists like Hafeez Saeed who have been proscribed by the United Nations.
5. Pakistan’s Prime Minister has called for dialogue and expressed his readiness to talk about terrorism. India has repeatedly stated that it is ready to engage in a comprehensive bilateral dialogue in an atmosphere free from terror and violence.
6. Pakistan claims to be the greatest victim of terrorism. This is far from truth. The international community is well acquainted with the reality that Pakistan is the nerve center of terrorism.
7. It is regrettable that the Pakistani Prime Minister has insinuated that India’s response to the terrorist attack is determined by the forthcoming General Election. India rejects this false allegation. India’s democracy is a model for the world which Pakistan would never understand. We demand Pakistan to stop misleading the international community and take credible and visible action against the perpetrators of Pulwama terrorist attack and other terrorists and terror groups operating from areas under their control.
2. Imran didn't even offer 'lip sympathy': Jaitley
)
At a Cabinet briefing Tuesday evening, Union minister Arun Jaitley hit out at Khan for not making even a "pretext" of outright condemnation of the Pulwama attack and showing not even "lip sympathy" for the bereaved families .Days after the terror strike by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror group killing 40 CRPF personnel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said security forces have been given free hand to avenge the dastardly act.
Jaitley mocked Khan's demand for actionable intelligence from India, saying JeM has publicly acknowledged its hand behind the attack, adding India had provided the neighbouring country evidence and intelligence related to the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.
"We know its fate," Jaitley said referring to lack of any concrete action from Pakistan against the terror group and its handlers involved in the attack. He dismissed Khan's statement as a diversionary tactic.
3. Defence Minister also gives strong reaction to Imran Khan's statement
)
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Tuesday slammed Pakistan for seeking proof of its involvement in the Pulwama terror attack and said it was India which has been providing evidence but the neighbouring country has not taken any action on it.
She was reacting to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's message to India to share 'actionable intelligence' if his country was involved in the terror attack for any action.
"Since the Mumbai attacks, not just this government, the earlier government also had sent dossiers after dossiers, evidence after evidence, what action has Pakistan taken on them?" she asked.
Also, at every level India has been following the process of law and the Mumbai attackers had been brought to book and punished by court of law, she told a press conference here.
"In Pakistan not even the first court is doing its job. There is nothing for Pakistan to show," she added.
Reacting to Khan's comments over the attack, Sitharaman said she would not want to say how the government was going to respond to it as no word is sufficient enough to assuage the anger and disappointment of every person of the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already allowed the Indian Army to respond at any given time and as they see fit, Sitharaman said.
On the defence forces morale following the Pulwama terror attack, Sitharaman said "The morale is not affected at all, they are absolutely ready to do their job.
The response the people of India have shown, has brought greater motivation to them," she said.
Asked what the government is doing to avoid a repeat of Pulwama type attacks, Sitharamana said India was gathering more information to prevent any such incidents in future.
"The security agencies are working tirelessly to gather more information from the ground.
Every effort will be taken to prevent any future incidents such as Pulwama Terror attack," she said.
India Tuesday rubbished Prime Minister Imran Khan's comments on the ghastly Pulwama attack, saying disclaiming Pakistan's link with terrorist attacks is an oft-repeated excuse by the "nerve centre" of terrorism.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said India was not surprised that Khan refused to acknowledge the attack on India's security forces in Pulwama as an act of terrorism, adding his offer to investigate the attack if provided proof is a "lame excuse".
4. Pulwama attack: PM Modi has said that strong action will be taken
)
In several occasions, PM Modi has said that his blood is boiling and the security forces have been given complete freedom to avenge the death of the martyrs in the way they deem it correct.
Hence , it is unlikely that India will like to get into a diplomatic exchange with Pakistan regarding the Pulwama terror attack.
