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INDIA-PAKISTAN-UNREST-POLITICS UPDATE
India demands Pakistan take ‘credible’ action over suicide attack
NEW DELHI, Feb 19, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – The Indian government on Tuesday
demanded that Pakistan take “credible and visible action” over a major
suicide attack in Kashmir as it rebuffed Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s
offer to investigate the bombing.
Tensions between the neighbours have soared since last Thursday’s attack,
claimed by a Pakistan-based group, in which at least 40 Indian paramilitaries
were killed.
“We demand Pakistan to stop misleading the international community and
take credible and visible action against the perpetrators of Pulwama
terrorist attack,” said an Indian foreign ministry statement.
Khan earlier used a nationally televised address to demand India give
“actionable evidence” to back its claim of Pakistan’s backing for the suicide
bomber.
He also said Pakistan would retaliate if attacked.
Imran “has neither chosen to condemn this heinous act nor condoled with
the bereaved families,” said the Indian statement.
“The prime minister of Pakistan has offered to investigate the matter if
India provides proof. This is a lame excuse.”
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi faces increasing pressure to take
tough action over the attacks, which were claimed by Pakistan-based Islamist
group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
Kashmir, split between India and Pakistan since independence from Britain
in 1947, has been a continual source of friction between them. Both countries
claim the Himalayan region in full and have fought two wars over the
territory.
BSS/AFP/ARS/2013 hrs