The action by Pakistan, promised by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a telephonic conversation with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi last week, had been expected for some days, especially after pressure from several sides. The Indian government had made it clear that there would be no talks without action from Pakistan on the basis of evidence and leads handed over by India about the Pathankot attackers who killed seven Indian soldiers. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry repeated the tough message, calling for swift action, to which Mr. Sharif had replied that the world will see their effectiveness and sincerity in fighting terror. In two separate statements, China too had condemned the attack, saying it shared the pain and anger of the people of India. Maulana Masood Azhar, chief of terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad blamed by India for the Pathankot attack, has been detained by Pakistan. Masood Azhar’s brother and several other associates have also been detained as per confirmed report. In the meanwhile the Ministry of External Affairs kept up the pressure by refusing to confirm or cancel the Foreign Secretary-level talks which had been informally agreed for January 15. Pakistan is put in a precarious position and there is no chance of buying time to delay the matter as terror originated from their country since a long period of time.
Jayanthi Maniam
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
