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  India   Pakistan played key role in fomenting J&K trouble: Rajnath Singh

Pakistan played key role in fomenting J&K trouble: Rajnath Singh

AGE CORRESPONDENT
Published : Jul 22, 2016, 1:46 am IST
Updated : Jul 22, 2016, 1:46 am IST

In the wake of Islamabad observing a “black day” to highlight the Kashmir issue, Union home minister Rajnath Singh told Parliament on Thursday that Pakistan played a “key role” in fomenting the recent

Home Minister Rajnath Singh speaks in the Lok Sabha in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)
 Home Minister Rajnath Singh speaks in the Lok Sabha in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

In the wake of Islamabad observing a “black day” to highlight the Kashmir issue, Union home minister Rajnath Singh told Parliament on Thursday that Pakistan played a “key role” in fomenting the recent trouble in Kashmir, even as the MEA issued a strongly-worded statement slamming Islamabad.

“If there is terrorism in India, then it is Pakistan-sponsored,” the home minister said, while announcing in the Lok Sabha that an expert committee will be set up to recommend alternatives to pellet guns, a non-lethal weapon blamed for causing fatal injuries and blindness among protesters in Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed security forces to maintain “maximum restraint”, the home minister said, adding that the PM had remained in touch with him about the situation in Kashmir during his foreign tour and offered his suggestions. “I felt he was in pain and worried. The first meeting he called upon his return to India was to discuss Kashmir,” Mr Singh said, adding that Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was a “tech-savvy terrorist of the new generation” who had exploited social media platforms to lure youths into picking up the gun.

The MEA said “it strongly condemns the encouragement and support which such terrorists and their activities receive from Pakistan’s state” and demanded that “Pakistan fulfil the obligation to vacate its illegal occupation of PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir)”.

Location: India, Delhi, New Delhi