New Delhi: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman dubbed Pakistan’s ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s public acknowledgement that militant organisations were active in his country and said Sunday it was a ‘serious disclosure’ and proved India’s position that the handlers of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack were trained in Pakistan.
Earlier, Sharif had questioned Pakistan’s policy to allow the ‘non-state actors’ to cross the border and ‘kill’ people in Mumbai, according to a media report.
“Well, it is very serious disclosure. India’s position has been that the mastermind of the Mumbai terror attack operated from Pakistan. We strongly believe that the handlers of the attack were in Pakistan,” Sitharaman told a press conference here, in response to a query. “It (Sharif’s remarks) only proves that India’s stand has been right all the way,” she added.
To a question on Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s call for a unilateral ceasefire in the state during the month of Ramzan till completion of the Amarnath Yatra, the Defence Minister said, ” I think it is important to handle J&K affairs with a great deal of sensitivity. The Indian Army will have to make sure that India is a safe country. It has to handle firmly any terrorism which threatens peace and harmony of J&K and the rest of India also.”
Sharif’s disclosure vindicates India’s stand: Sitharaman
