New Delhi: Maintaining that India’s “non-military counter terrorism strike of February 26” on a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror camp at Balakot in Pakistan’s KPK province had “achieved the intended objective (and) demonstrated (our) firm resolve to take decisive action against cross-border terrorism,” India accused Pakistan, on Saturday, of not being serious in any crackdown on terror emanating from the Pakistani soil and of following the “same script.”
The ministry of external affairs (MEA) also said that the Indian Air Force (IAF) MiG-21 Bison fighter aircraft, piloted by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, had shot down a Pakistan Air Force F-16 on February 27 and that there were “eyewitness accounts and electronic evidence” to prove it.
Wg Cdr Varthaman’s MiG-21 Bison was itself shot down and he was captured alive after ejecting successfully by the Pakistani Army. He was eventually released the next day.
In comments dripping with sarcasm, New Delhi said that “if Pakistan claims to be a ‘naya (new) Pakistan with nayi soch,’ it should show ‘naya action’ against terrorist groups and terror infrastructure on its soil and end cross border terrorism in support of its claims.”
India also said it had “asked the United States to also examine whether the use of F-16 against India is in accordance with the terms and conditions of sale.”
MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, meanwhile, said that Pakistan’s refusal to provide access to the (Pakistani and global) media to the site of the IAF bombings at Balakot “shows they (Pakistan) have plenty to hide” and that Islamabad’s “initial bravado has disappeared.”
In response to a question on the forthcoming talks between India and Pakistan on the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, which will take place on March 14, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that it “was not a resumption of bilateral dialogue,” rather it reflected the “emotions and sentiments” of Indian Sikhs who want easy and smooth access to the Gurudwara located close to the border in Pakistani Punjab.
