Comments are a "new low", MEA blasts Pak FM Bilawal for remarks on Modi

Comments are a "new low", MEA blasts Pak FM Bilawal for remarks on Modi

Lashing out at Islamabad, MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi said while Mumbai, London and New Yorkhave been victims of Pakistan-sponsored terror menace, the "Make in Pakistan” terrorism has to stop". 

New Delhi 

"These comments are a new low, even for Pakistan,"  MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi said in responseto media queries on the personal attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Pakistan's foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto.

"The Foreign Minister of Pakistan has obviously forgotten this day in 1971, which was a direct result of the genocide unleashed by Pakistani rulers against ethnic Bengalis and Hindus. Unfortunately, Pakistan does not seem to have changed much in the treatment of its minorities," Bagchi said adding, "it certainly lacks credentials to cast aspersions at India".

MEA spokesman Bagchi further stated that - "As recent conferences and events have demonstrated, counter terrorism remains high on the global agenda. Pakistan’s indisputable role in sponsoring, harbouring, and actively financing terrorist and terrorist organisations remains under the scanner. Pakistan FM’s uncivilised outburst seems to be a result of Pakistan’s increasing inability to use terrorists and their proxies".

He said, cities like New York, Mumbai, Pulwama, Pathankot and London are among the many that "bear the scars of Pakistan-sponsored, supported and instigated terrorism". 

"This violence has emanated from their Special Terrorist Zones and exported to all parts of the world. "Make in Pakistan” terrorism has to stop," he said. 

The MEA spokesman said, "Pakistan is a country that glorifies Osama bin Laden as a martyr, and shelters terrorists like Lakhvi, Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar, Sajid Mir and Dawood Ibrahim. No other country can boast having 126 UN-designated terrorists and 27 UN-designated terrorist entities".

"We wish that Pakistan Foreign Minister would have listened more sincerely yesterday at the UN Security Council to the testimony of Ms. Anjali Kulthe, a Mumbai nurse who saved the lives of 20 pregnant women from the bullets of the Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab. Clearly, the Foreign Minister was more interested in whitewashing Pakistan’s role. Pakistan FM’s frustration would be better directed towards the masterminds of terrorist enterprises in his own country, who have made terrorism a part of their State policy," he said.

The MEA spokesman rather categorically asserted that, "Pakistan needs to change its own mindset or remain a pariah".

MEA spokesman's remarks come in response to Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal stating in New York-  “ .....that Osama bin Laden is dead, but the butcher of Gujarat lives and he is the Prime Minister of India".

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We cannot let another 9/11 of New York or 26/11 of Mumbai, says Jaishankar

New Delhi 

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has lashed out at Pakistan for continuing to be an 'epicenter' of terrorism and also pointed out that the expansion of Al-Qaida, Da’esh, Boko Haram and Al Shabab are all a matter of deep concern.

"We cannot let another "9/11 of New York” or "26/11 of Mumbai” happen again. In the last two decades, terrorism 

has been significantly countered and its justification de-legitimized. But this remains work in progress,"

he said.

"...The threat of terrorism has actually become even more serious. We have seen the expansion of Al-Qaida, 

Da’esh, Boko Haram and Al Shabab and their affiliates. At the other end of the spectrum are ‘lone wolf’ attacks 

inspired by online radicalization and biases," the Minister said presiding over the ‘UNSC Briefing: Global 

Counterterrorism Approach: Challenges and Way Forward’ in New York.

He asserted that combating terrorism is a battle in which there is no respite. 

"The world cannot afford attention deficits or tactical compromises".

"Somewhere in all of this", he pointed out the the global community "cannot forget that old habits and 

established networks are still alive, especially in South Asia. The contemporary epicenter of terrorism 

remains very much active, whatever gloss may be applied to minimize unpleasant realities".

Dr Jaishankar did not spare China and without naming it, he said, "...there are evidence-backed proposals that 

are put on hold without assigning adequate reason". 

He further said, "Conversely, there have even been recourse to anonymity so as to avoid taking ownership of 

untenable cases".

Moreover, he said, for too long, some have persisted with the belief that terrorism is just another instrument or 

stratagem. 

"Those invested in terrorism have used such cynicism to carry on. It is not just plain wrong but could be 

downright dangerous, even for the very people whose toleration extends this far," he said adding the technologies

are also being misused by extremists, radicals, and terrorists. 

"Over the years, they have diversified their funding portfolio and expanded their recruitment toolkit. They 

exploit the anonymity afforded by new and emerging technologies such as virtual currencies for fundraising 

and finances. Terrorist groups have also been taking advantage of openness of democratic societies, 

spreading false narratives, inciting hatred, and radicalizing ideologies," Dr Jaishankar said.

It may be pointed out that from time to time China, in collaboration with Pakistan, had blocked India’s 

bid to ban terrorist and JeM chief Masood Azhar and get him designated a terrorist by the UN.

In 2016 within weeks after Uri terror attack, at least 15 countries were willing to designate Azhar but 

China, with its veto powers, took the decision to block the move.

In March 2019 also a similar strategy was adopted by China after India has convinced many global

powers for support against Jaish after the Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) had 

attacked security forces at Pulwama.

ends