After global pressure, Pak says ready to act against terrorism if given 'supporting evidence'

With the United States continuing to put pressure on Islamabad to take action against terrorist forces seeking safe haven in their territory, Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit on Monday said his country is ready to take action against the extremist forces provided it is given appropriate evidences on the same.

In an interaction with journalists at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies here in national capital, Basit asserted that Pakistan has zero tolerance for terrorism and was unnecessarily being blamed for the Uri terror attacks.

"As far as Pakistan is concerned there is zero tolerance for terrorism. When Uri attack was underway, Pakistan was being blamed, when we were not knowing as to what was happening. We didn't know what was happening on ground, and we were referred a terrorist state" Basit said.

He further said that it would be unwise to link Pakistan with the terror attack in which 19 soldiers were killed and called for an international probe before drawing a pre-mature conclusion.

Responding to the further deterioration of India-Pakistan relations after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during the 71 st United Nations General Assembly in New York lashed out at Indian forces for the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen chief Burhan Wani, Basit said "We have seen time and again as to how the development in Jammu and Kashmir has affected the Indo-Pak relations. To claim that hundred and thousand who attended Burhan Wani's funeral were instigated by Pakistan is wrong."

Basit emphasised that Pakistan is not shying from discussing the issue of terrorism with India saying, "Let's admit that Jammu and Kashmir continues to be the reason of mistrust between India and Pakistan."

He pointed out that the issue has made both countries mutually antagonistic to each other.

"We need to move from symbolism to substance and from conflict management to conflict resolution. If would serve better purpose if we tone down the rhetoric and build new bridges of trust," he said.

Last week, the United States had asserted that it is working very hard to push Islamabad to take action against terrorist groups that seek safe haven on their soil and territory.

State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mark Toner said in a press conference that another goal of the US is to push for more between Pakistan and India, which will help reduce tensions in the region.

Similarly, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also cast doubts on Islamabad's intention to fight terrorism mushrooming in its own backyard saying that if Pakistan is serious about fighting terror, then India is ready to help them eradicate it.

"Pakistan has forgotten the difference between terrorists and freedom fighters. Terrorism in India is mostly sponsored from across the border...If Pakistan is serious about fighting terror then we are ready to help them eradicate terror, but their intention is not that," Singh said, referring clearly to the September 18 Uri terror attack.