CRPF attack Archives

World condemns Kashmir attack; US asks Pakistan to end support to terror groups

by admin | May 25, 2021 | News

New Delhi : The international community has strongly condemned the terror attack by the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 45 CRPF personnel, with US President Donald Trump asking Pakistan to “end immediately” the support and safe haven provided to all terrorist groups operating on its soil.

“The US calls on Pakistan to end immediately the support and safe haven provided to all terrorist groups operating on its soil, whose only goal is to sow chaos, violence and terror in the region. This attack only strengthens our resolve to bolster counter-terrorism cooperation and coordination between the US and India,” Trump’s Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement.

“We express our deep condolences to the victims’ families, the Indian government and the Indian people for the loss of life in this brutal attack,” the statement added.

China’s Foreign Ministry on Friday also denounced the attack, hoping that “relevant regional countries will cooperate to cope with the threat of terrorism and jointly uphold regional peace and stability”.

It added that the “JeM has been included in the UN Security Council terrorism sanctions list and that China will continue to handle the relevant sanctions issue in a constructive and responsible manner”.

An operative of the JeM group crashed a car bomb into a convoy of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Pulwama district on the Srinagar-Jammu Highway on Thursday, making it the worst ever attack on security forces on any single day since a separatist campaign broke out in Jammu and Kashmir in 1989.

Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah stressed the “need for solidarity and closer cooperation of countries in the fight against this common enemy”.

“Terrorism is a cancer in the region and it requires collective efforts to root it out,” Ghani said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned the “brutal crime” and said that “the perpetrators and sponsors of the attack, undoubtedly, should be duly punished”.

Putin reiterated Moscow’s “readiness for further strengthening counter-terrorist cooperation with Indian partners”.

The European Union in a statement said that “as a strategic partner of India, the EU reaffirms its full solidarity at such a difficult moment”.

Saudi Arabia also denounced the “cowardly” attack and said it stands with India against terrorism and extremism.

Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said her country “remains steadfast in its support of the global fight against terrorism,” reaffirming a resolve “to prevent radicalization and defeat terrorism in all its forms”.

Indonesia and Australia also slammed the strike.

The attack further damaged the already tense India-Pakistan diplomatic relations, with New Delhi saying it had evidence of Islamabad’s involvement in the carnage. It also withdrew the Most Favoured Nation trade status it had granted to Pakistan in 1996 under the World Trade Organization rules.

However, Pakistan dismissed accusations that it has links with the militants who carried out the attack. “We strongly reject any insinuation by elements in the Indian government and media circles that seek to link the attack to the State of Pakistan without investigations,” said the country’s Foreign Ministry in a statement.

—IANS

J&K attack worst mistake by terrorists, those responsible will pay: Modi

by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics

New Delhi : In a stern message to Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the terrorists have committed their “worst mistake” by killing 45 CRPF troopers in Jammu and Kashmir and said their backers will pay “a very big price”.

Modi’s remarks a day after the Pakistan-backed Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) claimed responsibility for the Thursday attack in Pulwama.

“We have given complete freedom to the security forces. We have full faith in their bravery and valour,” Modi said while addressing a programme to flag off the first indigenous engine-less Train 18, renamed as Vande Bharat Express, at the New Delhi Railway Station.

He said: “The terrorist groups and those who are giving them shelter are responsible and have committed their worst mistake. They have to pay a very big price.”

Modi also assured the nation that “those powers who are behind the attack will be punished for their deeds”.

Hitting out at Pakistan but without naming it, Modi said: “If our neighbour which is totally isolated in the world thinks it can destabilize India through its tactics and conspiracies, it is making a huge mistake.”

“If our neighbour which is facing the worst ever economical crisis thinks that it can make India unstable, then their dreams will not be fulfiled.”

The Prime Minister’s remarks came minutes after the Cabinet Committee on Security decided to withdraw the “Most Favoured Nation” (MFN) status given to Pakistan. The MFN status to Pakistan was given by India in 1996.

Modi urged the political parties to stay away from politicizing the issue.

“This moment is very important and emotional. All of us should stay away from politics and we should unite together against them,” he said.

The Prime Minister thanked the countries which have supported India and condemned this incident in the strongest of terms. “A strong reply will be given to this attack,” he said.

“When all the countries will fight together against terror, terrorism will be eliminated. The soldiers have sacrificed their lives for the country. I assure everyone that we will take every step to bring the perpetrators of the crime to book,” he said.

Modi then inspected the engine-less Vande Bharat Express along with Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and flagged it off at 11.20 a.m.

Manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, it left from New Delhi at 10 a.m. for Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Modi.

—IANS