Blaming Pakistan for the attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir, India has vowed to launch an all-out effort to ‘isolate Pakistan’ across all diplomatic fronts.
India’s finance minister made these remarks on Friday after attending the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security.
Without presenting any details or proof, Arun Jaitley blamed ‘Pakistani hand’ in the deadliest attack on Indian forces in decades and said the government had withdrawn the ‘Most-Favoured Nation’ status to Pakistan.
He affirmed that Indian government will make all efforts to bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice and those aiding and abetting the perpetrators will have to pay a ‘heavy price.’
Earlier on Wednesday, a suicide bomber had ramped his car laden with 350 kgs of explosive into a truck of Indian paramilitary soldiers on Srinagar Highway near Pulwama area of IOK. The blast killed at least 44 Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CPRF) soldiers and injured scores of others.
Following the blast, the Indian military launched a search operation in the area and made several arrests.
The responsibility for the attack was claimed by a group fighting against the atrocities of Indian forces in the oppressed region.
The attack is likely to provide Hindu extremist government a solid ground to start propaganda against Pakistan and gain political sympathy by posing a tough stance to the peace efforts made by the Prime Minister Imran Khan.
It should be mentioned here that Pakistan and India had recently agreed to open the Kartarpur border between the two countries for Sikh pilgrims – the project may also face a delay amid the escalating tension.
Meanwhile, defense experts see a chance of Indian involvement behind the attack as it provides RSS-inspired Indian government an opportunity to justify their brutalities and atrocities in the occupied region.
Following the growing resistance, Indian forces have escalated the use of power in Occupied Kashmir. Last year was the deadliest in a decade which saw almost 600 casualties, most of them civilians. Thousands more have been maimed in recent years by pellet-firing shotguns used by Indian forces.