NEW DELHI, INDIA: Union Home Minister said on Monday that Pakistan should close down, as he phrased, ‘factory of terrorism’ and also offered help to Islamabad in fighting terror, according to Indian media reports.
Speaking during a regional conference in Chandigarh, Rajnath Singh once again alleged that Pakistan was harbouring terrorists, a narrative the world has already denied and rejected.
He said, “That is the reason it has been isolated not only in South Asia but also in the world. India is ready to help Pakistan in taking action against terrorists in Pakistan. But for that Islamabad should close down ‘factory of terrorism’. This will open vistas of development and help in ensuring peace in South Asia.”
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The Indian minister added, “India does not harbour any ill-will against the people of Pakistan,” while commenting on India’s claims of ‘surgical strikes’ at the Line of Control (LoC).
Rajnath Singh repeated that India would be sealing the border with Pakistan by December 2018.
In the almost 181.85 kilometres stretch, latest technology solutions such as cameras, sensors, radars and lasers would be deployed, Singh said.
He claimed that the Border Security Force (BSF) was in a testing phase of available technologies through pilot projects in Punjab, Gujarat and the held Kashmir.
The Indian minister admitted that India was diplomatically engaging all its neighbours except Pakistan to ensure peace along the borders since its security was highly important.
China defends Pakistan
China sprang to long-time ally Pakistan’s defence on Monday after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi branded Pakistan a ‘mother-ship of terrorism’ at BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – summit.
Tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours have been running high since a September 18 attack on an army base in Kashmir, near the disputed frontier with Pakistan, killed 19 Indian soldiers.
“We also oppose the linking of terrorism to any specific country, ethnicity or religion. This is China’s consistent position,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily news briefing in Beijing.
“Everyone knows that India and Pakistan are victims of terrorism. Pakistan has made huge efforts and great sacrifices in fighting terrorism. I think the international community should respect this,” Hua added.
