NEW DELHI: Categorically stating that terrorism cannot be a commodity exported, India on Thursday said it will review the Most Favoured Nation status to Pakistan keeping in mind its security interests.
Despite the ties between the two countries coming to a naught following the announcement of surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Armed Forces, India said that infiltrations supported from across the border continues.
“We will review the MFN status to Pakistan keeping in mind India’s interests as Terrorism cannot be the major commodity exported,” Ministry of External Affair’s Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. India had unilaterally granted MFN status to Pakistan in 1996. Even though the withdrawing of the status will have negligible impact considering the bilateral trade between the two countries, but it has symbolic meaning.
Speaking on the issue of the video of surgical strikes being made public, he also added that “Whatever the Government puts in public in determined by national security.”
The MEA spokesperson said that the situation on the LoC continues to be tensed with terrorists trying to infiltrate along the Line of Control (LoC). “As you know, 20 successful interdictions have been carried out by our Security Forces on or along LoC stopping infiltration attacks by dozens of terrorists and neutralizing them. Since July 8 only, close to a dozen major terrorist attacks have taken place in J&K, supported and launched from across LOC or border, including today in Handwara. Captured terrorists have told us of large number of terrorists trained and ready to be launched in terrorists’ camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir,” Swarup added.
Quoting Director General Military Operations (DGMO), Swarup said that India intends to maintain peace and tranquility in the region, “but we can certainly not allow the terrorists to operate across the Line of Control with impunity and attack the citizens of our country”.
Since the surgical strikes, India has also deployed the non-military solutions available to it and has worked to isolate Pakistan globally. “You have already seen the pressure that we have brought to bear internationally on Pakistan to cease support to cross border terrorism. You have all seen the result at the UNGA. You have all seen the result at SAARC. You have all seen the statements by major countries like the US and Russia. I do not think I need to say any more,” Swarup said on the success of New Delhi’s diplomatic offensive.
India again criticized Pakistan for lionizing the slain self-acknowledged Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Burhan Wani as Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif hailed him in Parliament. “Pakistan has once again self implicated itself,” Swarup said.