Pulwama Terror Attack: PM Modi To Chair CCS Meeting Today; India Urges UN To Classify Masood Azhar As ‘Designated Terrorist’
While strongly condemning the cowardly terrorist attack, Indian security forces in Pulwama, Jammu & Kashmir yesterday (14 February), the The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a statement has called upon the international community to classify JeM Chief Masood Azhar as a ‘designated terrorist’ and ban terrorist outfits operating from territories controlled by Pakistan.
“This heinous and despicable act has been perpetrated by Jaish-e-Mohammed, a Pakistan-based and supported terrorist organisation proscribed by the United Nations and other countries. This terror group is led by the international terrorist Masood Azhar, who has been given full freedom by Government of Pakistan to operate and expand his terror infrastructure in territories under the control of Pakistan and to carry out attacks in India and elsewhere with impunity,” the ministry noted.
It added, “We strongly reiterate our appeal to all members of the international community to support the proposal to list terrorists, including JeM Chief Masood Azhar, as a designated terrorist under the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council and to ban terrorist organisations operating from territories controlled by Pakistan.”
Pakistan Denies Link
However, the Pakistani government issued a statement denying any link with the terrorist attack and termed the Pulwama attack as “a matter of grave concern.”
“We strongly reject any insinuation by elements in the Indian media and government that seek to link the attack to Pakistan without investigations,” Pakistan stated.
CCS Meeting Today
PM Modi will today (15 February) chair a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to take stock of the national security situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the aftermath of the heinous attack in Pulwama. The meeting, which will also be attended by Raksha Mantri Nirmala Sitharaman, is expected to begin at 9:15 AM.