'Let us also not forget ... Osama bin Laden': MEA rebuts US general's endorsement of Pakistan, cites Pahalgam attack
NEW DELHI: India has strongly rebutted the United States' characterisation of Pakistan as a counter-terrorism partner, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) calling out Islamabad's long-standing complicity in nurturing cross-border terrorism.
Citing the recent Pahalgam attack as a stark reminder, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal underscored Pakistan's record of harbouring terrorists and facilitating violence on Indian soil.
At the weekly media briefing on Thursday, Jaiswal said, 'Pakistan's track record on terrorism is well known. The recent Pahalgam terror attack is only the latest example of cross-border terrorism that India has repeatedly suffered from.'
He pointed to the extradition of 26/11 co-conspirator Tahawwur Rana from the United States to India as a sign that justice is finally catching up. 'Let us also not forget that Pakistan gave refuge to Osama bin Laden. The person who helped locate him, Dr Shakil Afridi, remains jailed by the Pakistani military,' he added.
Jaiswal's remarks come in response to US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief general Michael Kurilla's statement before the House Armed Services Committee, where he described Pakistan as a 'phenomenal partner in the world of counter-terrorism.'
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The general noted that Islamabad had apprehended several 'high-value' IS-K operatives recently.
Earlier, external affairs minister S Jaishankar in Brussels also addressed the issue, clarifying that India's actions are not part of a bilateral conflict with Pakistan, but a response to the global threat of terrorism.
'This is not a clash between two states,' Jaishankar said during a joint press conference with EU's High Representative Kaja Kallas.
'This is India responding to terrorism. Don't frame it as India versus Pakistan — think of it as India versus Terroristan.'
He reaffirmed India's zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and emphasized the need for international unity on the issue.
'There must be zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms. And we must never yield to nuclear blackmail. Terrorism is a shared global challenge and calls for strong, coordinated international action.'
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