Over 40 countries condemn terror attack Rajnath reviews security
New Delhi: A dossier, nailing the culpability of Pakistan in the terror attack in Pulwama, will be given to the FATF, an international terror financing watchdog, to expose the neighbouring country’s links with terrorism and seeking its blacklisting, officials said on Saturday.
Security agencies are preparing the dossier with the evidence gathered so far related to the attack carried out by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad and the help being provided to the outfit by the country, they said.
This will be a dossier on Pakistani agencies’ links with the JeM and how the terror group is being aided by them, a security official said.
The Paris-headquartered Financial Action Task Force (FATF) will also be told through the dossier how the Pakistani agencies are providing funds to the JeM, the official said.
If the FATF blacklists Pakistan, it may lead to downgrading of the country by multilateral lenders like IMF, World Bank, ADB, EU and also a reduction in risk rating by Moodys, S&P and Fitch.
Pakistan has been put on the grey list of the anti-terror finance watchdog in July 2018. The FATF currently has 35 members and two regional organisations – European Commission and Gulf Cooperation Council. North Korea and Iran are in the FATF blacklist.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Saturday that each drop of tear shed in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack would be avenged.
Continuing his tough talk in the wake of the ghastly strike that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF jawans, Modi said this is a “new India” which will not tolerate those who provide guns and bombs to target security personnel.
Addressing a public meeting at Dhule in north Maharashtra, he said anger over the horrific assault in Jammu and Kashmir is palpable in the country and all eyes are moist.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday reviewed the security situation in the country, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
The meeting was attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval among others.
During the meeting, top security officials briefed the home minister about the prevailing situation in the country, including along the Indo-Pak border, a Home Ministry official said.
The meeting took stock of the security measures in place to foil any design of the Pak-based terrorist groups to disturb peace in Jammu and Kashmir as well as in hinterlands, the official said.
The home minister directed the officials to ensure that all possible steps are taken to hunt down terrorists currently operating in Kashmir valley, another official said.
Those who attended the meeting include Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and Director of Intelligence Bureau Rajiv Jain.
Meanwhile, taking strong economic action against Pakistan following the Pulwama terror attack, India on Saturday raised the customs duty to 200 per cent on all goods imported from the neighbouring country, including fresh fruits, cement, petroleum products and mineral ore.
The decision would significantly hit Pakistan’s exports to India, which stood at around Rs 3,482.3 crore in 2017-18 as it would drastically increase the prices of its goods here.
Over 40 countries and at least three multi-nation organisations condemned the Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed, and expressed condolences over the loss of lives.
The UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the European Union issued statements condemning the terror strike. Countries such as the US, France, Canada, Israel, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Germany, and Australia were among the countries that expressed solidarity with India.
India’s neighbours such as Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Mauritius, Bangladesh and Afghanistan also condemned the terror strike. (Agencies)