European Parliament official backs India’s LoC strikes
European Parliament vice-president Ryszard Czarnecki praised the Modi government and the Indian Army for their professional approach to a situation that was becoming graver by the day.
A top European Parliament official has said India’s cross-border action against “terrorists” should be commended and supported because if the terror emanating from Pakistan was not checked, it would target the West soon.
European Parliament vice-president Ryszard Czarnecki praised the Modi government and the Indian Army for their professional approach to a situation that was becoming graver by the day.
“The message that came out was loud and clear that India would no longer allow Pakistan to fuel cross-border terrorism,” the British-born Polish politician said in a signed article in EP Today, the monthly news magazine for the European Parliament.
He wrote the “proactive operation” carried out on Pakistan-controlled territory” was “probably a first by India” and was in response to the two attacks on Indian defence establishments -- the Pathankot airbase in January and the Uri army camp in September.
“Both these establishments are located near the Indian border with Pakistan and the attacks were carried out by Pakistan-based terror groups who had sneaked across the border into India,” he said.
Czarnecki remarks are similar to those of Russian ambassador to India Alexander M Kadakin, who too blamed Pakistan for Uri attack, supporting the September 29 attack on militants preparing to infiltrate into India from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The lightning strikes were India’s first military response to the Uri attack that left 19 soldiers dead.
India clearly indicated the raid was not against the Pakistani state but focussed on terror groups threatening the region, he said.
“India deserves global support in its fight against terror emanating from Pakistan, for, if left unchecked, these individuals and groups would be attacking Europe and the West soon,” Czarnecki wrote.
It was important for the European Union to maintain pressure on Pakistan to eliminate the terror networks that operated within its borders.
“The time has come for the world to act decisively against terrorism and ensure that no terror group is assured of a secure haven in any part of the world,” he added.
The close relationship between the Pakistan defence establishment, the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network was well known, he said.
“We have witnessed the alarming growth of Pak-linked terror modules in Europe and other parts of the world. The close proximity between the Pak security establishment and extremist / terror groups has also given rise to a situation where organisations propagating Islamic militancy in Pakistan enjoy de facto state patronage,” Czarnecki said.
