The US asked Islamabad To Take “Meaningful Action” Against Terrorist Groups After India’s Strike On Jaish

WASHINGTON: The US asked Islamabad to take “meaningful action” against terrorist groups a day after India’s fighter jets crossed the Line of Control and destroyed a major terror training camp. The Donald Trump administration also called for India and Pakistan to “exercise restraint” amid heightened tension between the two countries.

“We basically encourage India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, and avoid escalation at any cost,” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement today.

Mr Pompeo spoke separately with Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistan counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi. “I also have encouraged both ministers to prioritise direct communication and avoid further military activity,” he said.

Mr Pompeo said that in talks with Mr Qureshi, he stressed “the priority of de-escalating current tensions by avoiding military action, and the urgency of Pakistan taking meaningful action against terrorist groups operating on its soil.”

Indian fighter jets also crossed the Line of Control before dawn on Tuesday and carried out “non-military, pre-emptive air strikes” within Pakistan to target a training camp of the terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed in Balakot, in the biggest escalation between the two countries in decades.

Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is in China today for a meeting with the foreign ministers of Russia and China, defended the air strikes across the Line of Control. “It wasn’t a military operation. No military installation was targeted. The objective was to act against terrorist infrastructure of JeM to preempt another terror attack in India. India doesn’t wish to see further escalation of situation. It’ll continue to act with responsibility and restraint,” Ms Swaraj said.

The air strikes killed a “very large number” of terrorists, trainers and senior commanders of Jaish, said the government. Sources said over 300 terrorists including Jaish chief Masood Azhar’s brother-in-law were killed, but there is no official figure.

The Jaish-e-Mohammed had killed 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) soldiers in Pulwama on February 14, in the deadliest attack on security forces in Kashmir.

Last week, US President Donald Trump said that the situation between India and Pakistan is “very dangerous” after the Pulwama attack. “India is also looking at something very strong,” he had said.