US backs India’s right to self-defence: NSA Bolton to Doval

WASHINGTON/NEW DELHI: In the wake of the Pulwama terror attack, US National Security Adviser John Bolton told his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval on Friday that America supports India’s right to self-defence as both sides vowed to work together to ensure that Pakistan ceases to be a safe heaven for JeM and other terror groups. Doval and Bolton held a telephonic conversation on Friday evening during which they resolved to hold Pakistan to account for its obligations under the UN resolutions and remove all obstacles to designate JeM leader Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, the External Affairs Ministry (EAM) said in New Delhi. It said that Bolton supported India’s right to self-defense against cross-border terrorism and offered all assistance to India to bring the perpetrators and backers of the attack promptly to justice. The call was initiated by the US side to express condolence and outrage over the Pulwama attack by Pakistan-based terrorist group JeM. At least 40 CRPF personnel were killed and many injured on Thursday in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir when a JeM suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 100 kg of explosives into their bus in Pulwama. “I told Ajit Doval today that we support India’s right to self-defence. I have spoken to him twice, including this morning... and expressed the US’ condolences over the terrorist attack,” Bolton told PTI.