Support India's right to defense: US tells Doval after Pulwama
John Bolton, the National Security Adviser of US, called his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval on Friday to inform his country supports India's right to defend itself, in wake of Pulwama terror attack. Earlier, the US had berated Pakistan asking it to stop providing safe haven to terrorist outfits. Jaish-e-Mohammed took responsibility for Thursday's attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were martyred. Here's more.
Bolton calls Doval, tells he supports India
Bolton called Doval on Friday morning to express his condolences and said the US supports India in its war against terrorism. "I told Ajit Doval today that we support India's right to self-defense. I have spoken to him twice, including this morning... and expressed the US' condolences over the terrorist attack," Bolton told PTI. He added they made their stance clear on Pakistan.
US had made its stance clear on Pakistan, says Bolton
"We have been very clear on that score (asking Pakistan to end support to terrorists)... And, we are continuing to be in discussions we are going to have with the Pakistanis," Bolton added.
Do something about terrorists, US had asked Pakistan
To recall, the US was one of the first nations which supported India after Pulwama attack. After a suicide bomber rammed a vehicle, full of explosives, into the CRPF convoy on February 14, India went into mourning. Headed by Masood Azhar, JeM operates from Pakistan. In a strongly-worded statement, the US asked Pakistan to stop encouraging terrorists who cause chaos and incite violence.
Here are the exact words of White House
"The United States calls on Pakistan to end immediately the support and safe haven provided to all terrorist groups operating on its soil, whose only goal is to sow chaos, violence, and terror in the region," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement.
Stop providing safe haven to terrorists: Pompeo told Pakistan
Many nations lent their support to India
Apart from the US, countries like Israel, Russia, Turkey, Germany, France, and Sri Lanka also slammed the barbarous attack on Indian armed forces. Ministry of External Affairs approached the International community to act against Masood, but China stopped the path, again. While condemning the attack, China declined to support India's bid to declare Masood a UN-designated terrorist.
Earlier, Modi warned Pakistan, said terrorists will pay heavy price
On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked world leaders for supporting India in this hour of grief. In the same breath, he came down heavily on the neighboring country reminding it that such tactics won't be able to destabilize India. PM Modi told the country that terrorists have already committed a huge mistake and they will have to pay a huge price.
