New Delhi, Feb 16 (UNI) India's strong retaliation to the deadliest ever terror attack on security forces in Valley continued on the second day on Saturday, with the all party meeting 'unanimously' declaring to fight terror, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assurance of giving justice to the sacrifices of soldiers and the Ministry of External Affairs using 'diplomatic routes' to pressurise Pakistan for action on prepetrators.
An all party meeting, held in the national capital, unanimously declared that the nation stands united in solidarity with security forces in fighting terror and defending the unity and integrity of India.
In Pulwama district of Kashmir, at least 40 CRPF jawans were killed in a massive explosion, when an explosive-laden vehicle rammed one of the buses of 78 vehicle convoy ferrying the CRPF jawans on Thursday. Militant organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed has claimed the responsibility of the attack.
The all party meeting, chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh at the Parliament Library Building, unanimously passed a resolution, which said 'We strongly condemn the dastardly terror attack of February 14, 2019 at Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, in which lives of 40 jawans of CRPF were lost.
'We, along with our countrymen, stand with their families in this hour of grief. We condemn terrorism in all its forms and the support given to it from across the border.Today, we stand united in solidarity with our security forces in fighting terrorism and in defending the unity and integrity of India,' the resolution said.
'India has, during the last three decades, faced the menace of cross border terrorism. Of late, terrorism in India is being actively encouraged by the forces from across the border,' it added.
The all party meeting was attended by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress leaders Jyotiraditya Scindia and Anand Sharma, Satish Chandra Mishra of Bhahujan Samaj Party, D Raja from Communist Party of India, Farooq Abdullah of National Conference, Sanjay Raut from Shiv Sena, Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav from Rashtriya Janata Dal and leaders of other Opposition parties.
Speaking at the meeting, the Home Minister said the government would take the war against Pakistan to its logical conclusion.
'The country is fighting a decisive battle against Pakistan. We will take this war to its logical conclusion. The sacrifice of our soldiers will not go in vain. We are committed to put an end to terrorism,' Mr Singh said.
Bit differences
However, certain differences did surface during the deliberations.
Parties like Trinamool Congress and National Conference reportedly 'watered down' the all-party resolution, while Sena MP Sanjay Raut told mediapersons, 'Surgical strike is a thing of past and perhaps inadequate.
'If surgical strike was good enough deterrent for Pakistan than Pulwama would not have happened,” he remarked.
Moreover, several opposition parties maintained that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should have chaired the all-party meeting.
D Raja also said that issues concerning 'communal tension' in Jammu region and in some other places - especially against Muslims - also figured at the deliberations.
The MEA has dismissed Pakistani denial of its involvement in Pulwama.
Justice
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that sacrifices of the 40 CRPF security personnel martyred in Pulwama attack shall not go in vain.
In an apparent reference to Pakistan, the Prime Minister said that the neighbouring nation has become the 'home of terrorism'.
'A country that was formed after India's partition, which gives shelter to terrorism and which is on the verge of bankruptcy, has today become a synonym for terrorism,' the Prime Minister said at a public event, in Yavatmal of Maharashtra.
The government on Friday reached out to at least 25 nations, including the P5- the US, the UK, France, Russia and China and South Asian nations and tried to impress upon them the need to build up pressure on Pakistan.
Diplomacy
India's diplomatic offensive to expose and isolate Pakistan continued for the second day and the government outrightly yet again rejected Islamabad's denial of Pakistani hands behind the February 14 Pulwama terror attack.
Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and other Secretaries in the Ministry of External Affairs held a series of meetings with a number of resident envoys in Delhi, including ASEAN Ambassadors.
Sources said envoys from Gulf Cooperation Council, Central Asia and Africa, among others, were invited for the meeting.
'There are also other audio-visual and print material linking JeM to the terrorist attack,' official Spokesperson in the MEA Raveesh Kumar said in reply to a question on Pakistan Foreign Secretary's briefing, rejecting Pakistan's involvement in the Pulwama attack.
Threats
In view of reports of threats and intimidation to students and residents of Jammu and Kashmir from several parts of the country, the Ministry of Home Affairs on Saturday issued an advisory to all States and Union Territories, to take necessary measures, ensuring their safety and security.
The advisory directs all Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police of all states to strictly maintain law and order situation.
Business and other activities came to a halt on afternoon in the Civil Lines of summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, including the historic Lal Chowk, against the alleged attack on Kashmiri's in Jammu and other parts of the country.
Meanwhile, Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Forum (KRMF), Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) and other trade bodies have called for a general strike on Sunday against attacks on Kashmiris outside the valley.
Washington's assurance
Earlier in the day, US National Security Adviser John Bolton telephoned his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval and assured him that Washington ‘supports’ India’s right to self-defence, “against cross border terrorism”.
Both NSAs resolved to hold Pakistan to account for its obligations under the UN resolutions and remove all obstacles to designate JeM leader Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, under the UN Security Council Resolution 1267 Committee process.
In the wake of government's decision to withdraw the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan, steps are being taken by the Union Commerce Ministry to prepare a list of Pakistani items, which would face restrictions and high custom duties.
The World Bank has said that trade between Pakistan and India was valued at a little over two billion dollars, but it could go as high as 37 billion dollars.
According to government sources, India mainly exports raw cotton, cotton yarn, chemicals, plastics, man-made yarn and dyes to Pakistan and imports petroleum products, bulk minerals, finished leather, fresh fruits and cement.
Precaution
Situation remained tense, but under control in the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir, where curfew continued for the second day on Saturday.
There were reports of mild protests on Jammu outskirts in the morning.
Around 100 vehicles were set ablaze by the protesting mob during yesterday's protests, following which curfew was imposed as preventive measure in the town.
Mobile internet services of all telecom operators also remained snapped, to prevent spread of rumours on social media and further escalation of tension.
Suggesting introduction of special chartered trains between Banihal and Baramulla for safe and speedy movement of security forces, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said issuing new directions to close highway for civilians during security force convoy could be revisited.
Vice-President of the National Conference (NC) Omar Abdullah was reacting to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's statement on Friday that civilian movement will be stopped for sometime, when a large convoy of security forces passes through an area.
UNI Team PS RJ 2015