Pak must dismantle terror infrastructure to be seen as responsible nation, says India

New Delhi [India], Sept. 22 (ANI): Pakistan must dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism if it has to be seen as a responsible member of the comity of the nations, said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup. Holding a weekly media briefing, Swarup said, "India has been the target of cross border terrorism emanating from Pakistan and from territory under its control for a long time, and the despicable Uri terror attack, in which our 18 brave soldiers lost their lives, comes in a series of such attacks in the recent past. "You would have seen very strong condemnation of the Uri attack from several major countries from the U.K., France, Russia, the U.S., Saudi Arabia, the UAE and many other countries, and expressions of support have been received from all of India's neighbours, I think, except one." The spokesperson further said yesterday (on Wednesday), Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit was summoned by our Foreign Secretary and was conveyed our grave concern on the terrorist attack on the army camp in Uri, and escalating infiltration of heavily armed and equipped terrorists tasked to carry out attacks in India. He (Basit) was also reminded that the Government of Pakistan had made a solemn commitment in January 2004 to not allow its soil or territory under its control to be used for terrorism against India, said Swarup, adding: "The persistence and growing violation of this undertaking is a matter of very serious concern." "As far as the speech by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is concerned, said Swarup, "that has already been very ably responded to by our First Secretary and Permanent Mission of India in New York Eenam Gambhir. You would have seen that the right of reply that we exercised and that very succinctly the matter in the correct perspective." "So, now onus is squarely on Pakistan to act against terrorist groups and entities, who find safe heavens and all types of support in Pakistan and indulge in cross-border terrorism against its neighbours, not just India," Swarup added. (ANI)