India lashes out at Pakistan’s charge of terror sponsorship

India today flayed Pakistan for its anti-India propaganda, calling the exercise “futile.” This was in response to Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s unsubstantiated allegation that he made today: “We are now presenting irrefutable evidence to the world to demonstrate the Indian state’s direct sponsorship of terrorism in Pakistan that has resulted in the deaths of innocent Pakistanis.”

India’s spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said in a statement, “The so-called claims of ‘proof’ against India enjoy no credibility, are fabricated and represent figments of imagination. This desperate attempt will find few takers as the international community is aware of Pakistan’s tactics and proof of its terror sponsorship has been admitted by none other than its own leadership.”

He highlighted Pakistan’s support for and glorification of jihadists. “The face of global terror, Osama Bin Laden, was found in Pakistan; Pakistan’s PM glorified him as a ‘martyr’ from the floor of Parliament; he admitted the presence of 40,000 terrorists in Pakistan; their Science and Technology Minister proudly claimed involvement and success of Pakistan, led by its Prime Minister, in the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 Indian soldiers were martyred.”

Srivastava also castigated Islamabad for not adhering to the ceasefire understanding of 2003 for maintaining peace and tranquility. “Pakistani forces continue to engage in providing supporting cover fire to infiltrators. The incessant infiltration of terrorists and induction of weapons to fuel terror activities continues unabated. Such activities are not possible without the support of Pakistani forces deployed along the LoC,” he said.

“The press conference [in which Qureshi made the statement] was a deliberate attempt on the part of the Pakistani establishment to shift focus from its internal political and economic failures. It also seeks to justify cross-border terrorism, including ceasefire violations and infiltration across the LoC and IB [international border],” Srivastava said.

“We call upon Pakistan to end its support to cross border terrorism,” the Indian spokesperson added. “Pakistani leaders have never hidden the fact that it has become a factory for producing terrorists. India is not the only neighbor to be targeted as underlined by the statements of countries similarly targeted. Distant parts of the world have seen the terror trail lead back to Pakistan. Concocting documents and peddling false narratives will not absolve Pakistan of such actions. We are confident the world will hold it to account.”.