Despite pressure from internal and external quarters, Pakistan is yet to take action against terror outfits that operate from its land. And, this is after India showed enough restraint by not launching any strike for nearly two weeks after an inhumane terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir, which killed over 40 CRPF soldiers.
Only after giving enough time to its neighbour, India today struck terror camps across LoC.
On Monday, the European Union joined a number of international entities attempting to defuse tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad and called on Pakistan to take clear and sustainable actions against terror groups including those who have taken responsibility for the Pulwama attack.
According to an EU statement, in a telephone call with Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, EU Vice-President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini stressed the urgency to de-escalate the situation and confirmed that the European Union is also in contact with Indian counterparts. It added: “The European Union’s policy has always been to promote a dialogue between Pakistan and India to sort out differences… (Pakistan) needs to continue addressing terrorism including clear and sustained actions targeting not only all UN-listed terrorist groups but also individuals claiming responsibility for such attacks.”
Already, former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf had said India could finish ‘us’ (Pakistan) by attacking with 20 (nuclear) bombs if Pakistan launched even a single nuclear attack on the neighbouring country. According to Karachi-based newspaper Dawn, Musharraf said: “Indian and Pakistan relations have again reached a dangerous level. There will be no nuclear attack. If we would attack India with one atomic bomb, then the neighbouring country could finish us by attacking with 20 bombs. Then the only solution is that we should first attack them with 50 atom bombs so that they cannot hit us with 20 bombs. Are you ready to first launch an attack with 50 bombs?”
In the meantime, three of Pakistan’s former foreign secretaries have urged their government to be prepared to deter any ‘aggressive action’ by India after the deadly Pulwama terror attack while engaging in ‘robust diplomacy’ to end the crisis peacefully.
Amid all these, Pakistan is yet to act. If Pakistan premier Imran Khan fails to act against ultras now, he would neither be forgiven nor forgotten by the international community.