UK to answer petition on Pak support to terror

LONDON: Britain is expected to make a statement on Monday after a petition on a government website that urged it to “strongly condemn” Pakistan for providing safe

LONDON: Britain is expected to make a statement on Monday after a petition on a government website that urged it to “strongly condemn” Pakistan for providing safe haven for terrorists received over 10,000 signatures by Sunday afternoon.

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As per rules, the government responds with a statement to a petition signed by 10,000 people. If a petition enlists 100,000 signatures, it is considered for a debate in parliament. So far, the Theresa May government has reacted to the strikes through a brief statement to HT on Thursday: “We are monitoring the situation closely following reports of strikes carried out by the Indian Army over the Line of Control in Kashmir. We call on both sides to exercise restraint and to open dialogue.”

The petition, launched by one Naman Paropkari in the backdrop of the Uri terror attack and Indian ‘surgical strikes’, says: “Pakistan continues to double-speak on issue of terrorism. It has aided & abetted enemies of the international coalition (of which Britain is a leading partner with the US) against terrorism”.

“Osama Bin Laden’s hideout was in Pakistan. Pakistan continues to harbour UN sanctioned terror networks,” it says, adding, “the Inter-Services Intelligence has often been accused of playing a role in major terrorist attacks, including the September 11, 2001, attacks in US, terrorism in Kashmir, Indian Parliament attack and Mumbai attacks.” The map of signatories indicates it has been signed by people across Britain, but mostly from areas with concentration of people of Indian origin.