Cross-border terrorism funded by Pakistan has not abated, and Islamabad has not yet demonstrated its seriousness in providing justice to the families of those killed in the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks, according to a report released on Monday by the Ministry of External Affairs, news agency PTI reported.
The MEA also stated in its annual report for 2022 that Pakistan is still using “hostile and manufactured propaganda” to demonise India and draw attention away from its own political and economic problems.
According to the statement, India wants to have cordial ties with Pakistan as neighbours, and New Delhi has consistently maintained that any disputes should be settled amicably and bilaterally in an environment devoid of terror and hostility. In addition, it stated that Pakistan had the responsibility to establish such an environment.
“Pakistan continues to engage in hostile and fabricated propaganda to vilify India, and to divert attention from its domestic political and economic failures,” it said.
“India has completely and unequivocally rejected all actions and statements by Pakistan on matters which are completely internal to India,” the MEA said.
According to the report, there is a growing recognition among nations that Jammu and Kashmir is a fundamentally internal concern for India.
“Despite India’s persistent urging that Pakistan respect its January 2004 commitment of not allowing its soil or territory under its control to be used for terrorism against India, there was no let-up in cross-border terrorism, infiltration and illegal smuggling of arms into India across the Line of Control (LoC) and International Boundary,” the MEA said.
“Pakistan is yet to show sincerity in delivering justice to the families of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks,” it said.
According to the MEA, India has continuously emphasised the need of Pakistan taking “credible, irreversible, and verifiable” measures to eliminate cross-border terrorism.
“India consistently raises the issue of Pakistan’s continued support to cross-border terrorism and terrorist infiltration in bilateral, regional and multilateral fora. In such outreach, credible inputs regarding the Pakistani origins of the captured terrorists are also shared,” it said.
According to the MEA, India wants normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan. “India desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan. India’s consistent position is that issues, if any, between India and Pakistan should be resolved bilaterally and peacefully, in an atmosphere free of terror and violence. The onus is on Pakistan to create such a conducive environment,” it said.
“However, Pakistan continues to sponsor cross-border terrorism against India; restrict normal trade, connectivity, and people-to people exchanges,” the MEA said.
(With Inputs From PTI)
