Pak envoy Basit summoned by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar
Our Correspondent / New Delhi
Three days after terror attack at Uri army camp, India today handed a list of evidence of involvment of Pakistan in the henious crime. The list was handed over to Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit, who was summoned this evening by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar.
Mr Basit was told that the Pakistan government had made a “solemn commitment” to not allow its soil or territory under its control to be used for terrorism against India, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. “The persistent and growing violation of this undertaking is a matter of very serious concern,” the statement read.
Mr. Jaishankar said, India is ready to provide finger prints and DNA samples of terrorists if Pakistan wishes to investigate.
GPS, Grenades with Pakistani markings, Communication matrix sheets, Communication equipment, and Pakistan-made food, medicines and clothes were recovered from the killed terrorists. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup told media that Mr. Jaishankar reminded Mr. Basit that Pakistan had made a solemn commitment in January 2004 for not allowing its soil or territory to be used for terrorism against India. But, the persistent and growing violation of this undertaking is a matter of very serious concern.
The Foreign Secretary also said, Uri terror attack only underlines that the infrastructure of terrorism in Pakistan remains active and India demands that neighbouring country lives up to its public commitment to refrain from supporting and sponsoring terrorism against India.
During the meeting, Mr. Jaishankar told the High Commissioner that beginning with the Pathankot airbase attack, this year, there have been continuous attempts by armed terrorists to cross the LoC and International Boundary to carry out attacks in India. 17 such attempts have been interdicted at the LoC, resulting in the elimination of thirty one terrorists. He added New Delhi now expects a response from Islamabad.
India had blamed Pakistan for the Uri attack, in which 18 soldiers died, after investigators found the four dead terrorists carrying grenades and food with Pakistani markings. The relations between the two countries, much frayed since the unrest broke out in Kashmir following the death of terrorist Burhan Wani, had nosedived sharply as senior ministers denounced Pakistan’s role and decided to isolate it diplomatically.