India tells Pakistan: Get your house in order, act on terror on your soil

New Delhi, First Published Jul 8, 2021, 9:59 PM IST

India on Thursday hit back at Pakistan and asked them to set their house in order by taking action against the terrorists using its soil.

The reaction came after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan alleged Indian hands in blast outside Lashkar-e-Tayiba chief Hafiz Saeed's house in Lahore on June 23, in which three people were killed while 20 others sustained injuries. Incidentally, two days ago, the Ministry of External Affairs had lodged a protest with the Pakistani Foreign Ministry in connection with a drone hovering over the Indian High Commission in Islamabad on June 26.

New Delhi asked it to investigate the incident.

Talking to media persons during the weekly briefing, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "Pakistan has time and again engaged in baseless propaganda against India. Pakistan should use the same effort to set its own house in order. It should take credible and verifiable action against terrorism emanating from its soil and terrorists who have found safe sanctuaries there."

Stating that the global community knows about Islamabad's credentials, he said, "This is acknowledged by none other than its own leadership that has continuously glorified terrorists like Osama Bin Laden as martyrs."

After the blast in Lahore, Imran Khan had told the media that the planning and financing of this heinous terror attack have links to Indian sponsorship of terrorism against Pakistan. "The global community must mobilise international institutions against this rogue behaviour," he added.

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation

On July 5, the Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ausaf Sayeed met OIC Secretary-General Yousef Al-Othaimeen after the latter requested to hold discussions.

In reply to a question, Bagchi said, "A wide range of issues were discussed during the discussion. We conveyed the need to correct some of the misperceptions about India that are perpetrated by vested interests in the OIC."

"Further, the OIC should be watchful that vested interests do not subvert their platform for comments on India's internal affairs or for anti-India propaganda through biased and one-sided resolutions," he added.

On resumption of travel to Gulf countries

Bagchi said, "We hope that with the vastly improved Covid situation in India, countries would ease restrictions for travel from India. We have taken up this matter with foreign partners wherever possible."

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his deputy V Muraleedharan had held a meeting with Indian Ambassadors in Gulf countries, where the envoys were asked requested to take up with their host countries the issue of resumption of flights with India.

He said that the minister had also raised this issue during bilateral meetings on the margins of the recently held G-20 ministerial meeting in Italy.

Jaishankar's Russian visit

During Jaishankar's visit to Russia, he made a technical halt in Tehran, where he was called on the President-elect Ayatollah Sayyid Ebrahim Raisi and also held a meeting with Foreign Minister Dr Javad Zarif.

"EAM carried a personal message from our Prime Minister to the President-elect of Iran," Bagchi added.

"The two sides exchanged views on regional and global issues. They also discussed the evolving situation in Afghanistan and expressed concerns over the deteriorating security there. Both sides also discussed joint connectivity initiatives in the region, including the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and Chabahar Port," he said.

During their discussion, Jaishankar reiterated India's interests in the region and support for efforts to maintain peace, security and stability.

Situation in Afghanistan

India is carefully monitoring the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and its implications on the safety and security of Indian nationals in Afghanistan.

"Our response will be calibrated accordingly," the External Affairs Ministry said.

Last Updated Jul 8, 2021, 9:59 PM IST