In China, Sushma Swaraj defends India's airstrike, points Jaish role in Pulwama
The External Affair Minister Sushma Swaraj is in China to attend the 16th Russia-India-China or RIC foreign ministers' meeting in Wuzhen. Swaraj in China has raised the Pulwama terror attack and pointed out Pakistan backed Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM)’s role in it. Swaraj also defended IAF air strike on Balakot camp during her bilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
"I am visiting China at a time when there are grief and anger in India. It is the worst terrorist attack directed against our security forces in Jammu and Kashmir," Swaraj said in her opening remarks during the meeting held on the sidelines of Russia, India, China Foreign Ministers.
The meeting between the two leaders of the two countruy happened just a day after Indian Air Force fighter jets struck a major terror training camp of Jaish in Pakistan's Balakot, calling it a "non-military, pre-emptive strike".
Speaking about the Pulwama terror attack, Swaraj said, "The attack was carried out by Jaish-e-Mohammed, the Pakistan-based and supported a terrorist organisation."
EAM Sushma Swaraj: It is important to both sides to ensure thorough and effective implementation of the guidance given by our leaders. Both sides have made good efforts in this regard & we should sustain this effort. https://t.co/cEMqsgkcKl
— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2019
“We're aware of the recent dastardly terrorist attack on our security forces in Pulwama, J&K perpetrated by Jaish-e-Mohammed, a Pakistan based&supported terrorist org proscribed by UN&other countries. We lost over CRPF 40 personnel while several others are injured seriously,” Swaraj added.
EAM: We're aware of the recent dastardly terrorist attack on our security forces in Pulwama, J&K perpetrated by Jaish-e-Mohammed, a Pakistan based&supported terrorist org proscribed by UN&other countries. We lost over CRPF 40 personnel while several others are injured seriously. pic.twitter.com/4k2GudVzkq
— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2019
“Such dastardly terrorist attacks are a grim reminder for the need of all the countries to show zero tolerance to terrorism and take decisive action against it,” Sushma Swaraj said in Wuzhen, China.
Swaraj further stressed that instead of taking action against the terror attack, Pakistan refused to act. “Following the Pulwama terrorist attack instead of taking seriously the calls by the international community to act against Jaish-e-Mohammed & other terror groups based in Pakistan, it denied any knowledge of the attack&outrightly dismissed claims by Jaish-e-Mohammed,” Saraj added.
Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj’s meeting with China is significant as Beijing has repeatedly blocked India's bid at the United Nations to declare JeM chief Masood Azhar a UN-designated global terrorist and blacklist him.
First published: 27 February 2019, 8:44 IST