Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday challenged Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s claim that “it is the Naya Pakistan” under his government and if there is proof, he would act against those involved in acts of terrorism. Minutes after Imran Khan sought evidence of Pakistan’s involvement in Pulwama terror attack, Captain Amarinder Singh said the mastermind responsible for the death of at least 40 CRPF jawans is in Bahawalpur, a town in Pakistan’s Punjab province.
He also sought to know from Imran Khan about what action has been taken on the basis of the proof that India shared with Pakistan in connection with 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, in which more than 160 people lost their lives 10 years ago. Ten Pakistani gunmen belonging to terror outfit, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) infiltrated the city of Mumbai through sea route and attacked public places including a hospital.
“Dear @ImranKhanPTI you have Jaish chief Masood Azhar sitting in Bahawalpur and masterminding the attacks with ISI help. Go pick him up from there. If you can’t let us know, we’ll do it for you. BTW what has been done about the proofs of Mumbai’s 26/11 attack. Time to walk the talk,” Captain Singh wrote on Twitter.
“Is there any need to give any more substantial evidences to Imran Khan, when Maulana Masood Azhar, founder Jaish-e-Mohammed, architected Pulwama terror plot, while sitting in Pakistan,” said Captain Amarinder later on the sidelines of laying foundation stone of canal based water supply system at Mandoli village in Ghanaur Assembly segment.
Earlier, Imran Khan denied that Pakistan was behind terror attack in south Kashmir’s Pulwama and claimed that India blamed the country “without any proof”. Jaish-e-Mohammad has claimed responsibility for the Pulwama terror attack.
“If you have any actionable intelligence that a Pakistani is involved, give it to us. I guarantee you we will take action ─ not because we are under pressure, but because they are acting as enemies of Pakistan,” Imran Khan said.
“If someone is using Pakistan’s soil [to carry out terror attacks elsewhere], it is enmity with us. It is against our interests,” the Pakistan prime minister said.
Captain Amarinder Singh countered Imran Khan saying the whole world knows about direct role Pakistan-sponsored terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad in Pulwama terror attack. “What else, Imran Khan wants as it is evident that Pakistan Army and its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is sponsoring terror activities in Kashmir and killing our army personnel on daily basis,” he said.
Imran Khan made a statement on Pulwama attack following India’s aggressive move against Pakistan in the aftermath of terror incident. India has withdrawn the most favoured nation (MFN) status accorded to Pakistan in 1996. It was followed up by hiking tariff on imports from Pakistan by 200 per cent.
The ministry of external affairs has reached out to more than two dozen countries in a bid to ensure Pakistan’s isolation among global community over its continued support to terrorism.
