France guns for Pak terrorists Vows to work for decisive action against LeT, JeM, Hizb

New Delhi, Jan. 12: France on Thursday pressed for “decisive action” against Pakistan-based terror groups like LeT, JeM and Hizbul Mujahideen which are “targeting” India and vowed to work with New Delhi to get terrorist Masood Azhar proscribed by the UN Security Council.

Without naming China which has blocked a proposal at the UNSC to sanction JeM chief Azhar, french foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said, “The international community’s determination to combat terrorism must be the same everywhere, regardless of the threat.”

On the cross-LoC surgical strikes carried out by India in September last year after an attack on Uri army camp, Ayrault said a country has a “right to defend itself” in the wake of such threats.

“France has very firmly condemned the terrorist attacks against India, including the recent one in Uri, and reiterated its full solidarity with India in its combat against terrorism,” the minister said.

Clearly referring to Pakistan without naming it, he emphasised that all countries should fight effectively against terrorism “originating from their territory or territories under their control”.

“We particularly want to see decisive action taken, in keeping with international law, against terrorist groups targeting India, particularly the Lashkare-Tayyaba, the Jaish-eMohammad and the Hizbul-Mujahideen,” he said.

He was on a four-day visit to India primarily to attend the Vibrant Gujarat Summit.