Prime Minister Narendra Modi is unlikely to visit Islamabad for the Saarc summit following the ghastly Pakistan-sponsored terror attack at the Army base in Kashmir’s Uri.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is unlikely to visit Islamabad for the Saarc summit following the ghastly Pakistan-sponsored terror attack at the Army base in Kashmir’s Uri. With this, Pakistan is suddenly facing a disadvantage diplomatically as the attack has come as clinching proof of India’s case on Islamabad backing terror in Jammu & Kashmir. Even as the Pakistan Army throwed down the gauntlet, the Modi government decided, after a series of meetings on Monday, that all steps would be taken to diplomatically to isolate Pakistan globally amid clear indications that Indo-Pakistan ties will not be the same again.
The Modi government has come under enormous pressure now to inflict costs on Pakistan. India’s position was further bolstered globally, with Russia, France, Canada and Afghanistan too condemning the attack on Monday and the United Nations saying that the perpetrators should be brought to justice. As already reported by this newspaper, Union external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj — who will lead the Indian delegation to the UN General Assembly and will address the UNGA on September 26 —- is expected to raise the Uri terror attack in a big way to drive home the point on Pakistan’s open support to terrorism. According to reports, Ms Swaraj was absent from one of the meetings chaired by PM Modi on the Uri terror attack but there was speculation that the minister may have been unwell on Monday.
The global community on Monday stood behind India in its hour of loss following the Uri attack which claimed the lives of 18 Army personnel.
In a strong statement mentioning India’s stand that the attack was carried out from Pakistan-controlled territory and calling for a probe, Moscow said, “We strongly condemn the terrorist attack against an Army base in Jammu and Kashmir’s Uri in the early hours of September 18, which killed 17 and injured 30 service personnel. We offer our condolences to the families of the victims and wish a rapid recovery to all those injured. Regarding the Pathankot Indian air base attack in January 2016, we are very concerned about the terrorist attacks near the Line of Control. We are also concerned about the fact that, according to New Delhi, the Army base near Uri was attacked from Pakistani territory. We believe that this criminal act will be investigated properly...”
France said, “We condemned on Sunday the terrible attack carried out in Uri yesterday. After that of Pathankot earlier this year, this attack reminds us that India, like France, is a victim of terrorism. More than ever before, we remain at the side of our strategic partner, India, for fighting this scourge. As underscored by the President of the French Republic during his India visit in January this year, all countries must effectively combat terrorism emanating from their territory or from territories under their control. We call for decisive action to be taken, in accordance with international law, against the terrorist groups targeting India, particularly the Lashkar-eTaiba, the Jaish-e-Mohammed, and the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Nothing can justify terrorism, which must be combated everywhere with the same determination.” France also recalls the importance it attaches to bringing calm and the peaceful settlement of disputes in the region of Kashmir, a French Foreign Ministry statement was cited by reports as saying.
With the US, UK, France and Canada condemning the attack, China too said it was shocked by the attack but there are indications that Beijing will yet again bail out its all-weather friend Pakistan. According to news agency reports from Beijing, while skirting a direct reference to Pakistan and JeM, China today voiced concern over “escalation” of tensions and “rising temperatures” in Kashmir after the Uri terror attack and called on India and Pakistan to resolve their differences through dialogue. Beijing said though that it was shocked by the attack.
Acting High Commissioner for Canada to India Jess Dutton strongly condemned the terrorist attack and said, “The Government of Canada extends condolences to the victims and their families. We are appalled by these attacks and stand with the Government of India in the fight against terrorism,” he added.
Condemning the attack, Afghanistan’s Ambassador to India Shaida Abdali said the countries that use terrorism as instrument of foreign policy should not only be isolated but also held accountable for taking away innocent lives. Noting that his country, which has been a victim of terrorism for a long time, can “share the pain”, he said it was high time that international community chalks a new course of action to “effectively and actively” deal with the countries which use terrorism as state policy.
