Pulwama Attack: Jaitley Calls Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s Demand For Proof A ‘Shallow Logic’

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement to ask India for “evidence or actionable intelligence” that the Pulwama attack was perpetrated by the neighbouring country is a “shallow logic as though the origin of the crime is not known”.

“Here the perpetrators of crime have admitted to the crime. There is a confession by them. Though this confession may be in form on muscle flexing. And those perpetrators are admittedly located in the country of which Mr. Khan is the prime minister,” Jaitley told reporters after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security.

Khan in a televised speech said his nation would retaliate only if India attacks, adding his country was being “blamed without any evidence”.

Tensions have been simmering between the historic arch-rivals since a militant car bombing, claimed by a Pakistani-based group Jaish-e-Mohammed, on Feb. 14 killed 40 personnel of India’s Central Reserve Police Force in Kashmir. It was one of the deadliest strikes in the region in decades.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs said it was “not surprised” that Khan refused to acknowledge the attack or condemn the killings. “Khan’s demand to provide proof was a ‘lame excuse’,” it said.

Here’s Jaitley’s full response on Khan’s statement:

There has been a universal condemnation of this gruesome act of terrorism at Pulwama. Our security forces are extremely confident of dealing with the situation. The masterminds have been liquidated and our security forces will continue to keep the vigil. The global community has endorsed India’s stand in a major way.

Regarding the Pakistan Prime Minister statement, three things are obvious:

1. There is not even a pretext of an outright condemnation of the incident;
2. Let alone sympathy for the bereaved families, not even a lip sympathy for them;
3. A very shallow logic that “provide to us an actionable intelligence”—as though the origin of the crime is not known. Actionable intelligence can only provide some clues.

The perpetrators of crime have admitted to the crime. There is a confession by them. Though this confession maybe in the form of muscle flexing. And those perpetrators are admittedly located in the country of which Mr. Khan is the prime minister. Two persons liquidated yesterday in the aftermath of Pulwama are Pakistan nationals. What do you need? Some actionable or remote intelligence for this purpose. The handlers have admitted to the offence. And therefore, this claim that “provide us, and we will act”— the evidence is in their own home. And in past, in relation of 26/11, both evidence and intelligence had been given and we know the fate. This is a diversionary statement.