New Delhi, Jan 24: India has criticized Pakistan for its role in supporting terrorism, affirming that the global community is aware of the true promoters of terrorism. In a press briefing on Friday, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Randhir Jaiswal, emphasized that it is widely recognized that certain nations are behind cross-border terrorism, and India urges Pakistan to implement stringent measures to combat it.
When questioned about Pakistan’s ISPR statement asserting that the Indian Army was being politicized following comments from the Indian Army Chief linking terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan, Jaiswal stated, “The entire world is aware of who promotes terrorism. In instances of terror-related incidents in India, the sources are well understood; we all recognize the beginnings and roots of cross-border terrorism. Hence, when it is clear to everyone who is the originator of cross-border terrorism, any claims of politicization are irrelevant. It is evident that there are individuals and nations accountable for cross-border terrorism, and we call on Pakistan to take decisive action to address this issue.”
This statement from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) followed remarks by Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, who labeled Pakistan as the epicenter of terrorism, indicating that 80% of the terrorists active in Jammu and Kashmir are from Pakistan.
During his annual Army Day press conference on January 13, General Dwivedi attributed the rising violence in the Union Territory to orchestrations from Pakistan, the terrorism epicenter.
“If the necessary support is not provided as India expects, this type of terrorist infiltration will persist,” he remarked. The Army Chief noted that recent parliamentary and assembly elections in the Union Territory saw nearly 60% voter turnout, highlighting that the local populace is leaning towards peace. “The people of Jammu and Kashmir are rejecting violence, which is being incited by our Western adversary, Pakistan,” he added.
General Dwivedi, who has extensive experience in counter-terrorism as the Northern Army Commander, stated that as of now, “We have deployed an additional 15,000 troops in 2024. Consequently, we are witnessing a reduction in violence, with 73 terrorists neutralized, of which 60% were Pakistani nationals.” (Agencies)
