‘New Pak’ must show new action, says India

HITTING BACK Imran’s comments on Modi meant to deflect pressure on issue of terror: MEA

NEWDELHI:INDIA said on Saturday that its air strike on a Jaish-e-mohammed (JEM) terrorist camp deep inside Pakistan last month had achieved its objective, and reiterated a call for Pakistan to take “credible, verifiable and sustained actions” against terror groups operating from its soil.

The external affairs ministry questioned the seriousness of a crackdown underway on banned organisations in the neighbouring country. It dismissed Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s remarks that his Indian counterpart was engaging in politics of hatred with an eye on elections, saying the comments were meant to divert attention from the pressure on Islamabad to quell terrorism.

Amid a relative easing of tensions following India’s February 26 hit on a JEM facility at Balakot in Pakistan and an aerial engagement over the Line of Control a day later, external affairs ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar said the air strike had met its objective. “Our non-military counter terrorism strike of February 26 achieved the intended objective. It demonstrated our firm resolve to take decisive action against cross-border terrorism,” the spokesman said.

Pakistan has questioned what it has called India’s “fictitious” claim that its air force had bombed a large JEM facility in Balakot. The Congress has sought information on the damage done to the terror camp and the number of JEM casualties.