Economic sanctions should be imposed on Pak: BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday said that Pakistan is becoming a problem state for the entire world and, therefore, sanctions should be imposed on it.

Speaking to ANI, BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said, "It is just clear that Pakistan doesn't want to leave terrorism. It is not only beholding terrorism, it is propagating terrorism. We can see clearly through these infiltration attempts that they are trying to escalate the problem. Simultaneously, we must recognize the heroic efforts of our armed forces in thwarting it, eliminating the terrorists."

"After the Uri incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government have made it clear that we will not allow those behind the attack to go unpunished. I think Pakistan is becoming a problem state for the entire world and this concern is increasing by the day," he added.

Barely two days after the terror attack in Uri, two infiltration bids were made from across the border in Kashmir on Tuesday but they were foiled by the army in an encounter in which 10 terrorists and a jawan were killed even as Pakistani troops violated ceasefire and fired at Indian positions. The terror attack has heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.

As the government mulled various options on India's response to the cross-border terror attack on Sunday in which 18 jawans were martyred, a crucial meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) was convened today.

Echoing similar sentiments, BJP leader Satyapal Singh spoke on the infiltration bid and said that economic sanctions should be imposed on Islamabad.

"The government of India surely has an alternative and the direction in which the Indian government is working, I am sure the people will be satisfied. The effort to place Pakistan differently on an international level is on. Economic sanctions should be imposed on Pakistan and the efforts are on," Singh said.

"Sometimes, in such cases, when the entire country is with the martyr's family and offers their tributes, I am of the opinion that offence is the best defence," he added.

Army sources in Delhi said that 10 terrorists were killed in the encounter with the army in the Uri sector. The bodies have not yet been recovered.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh again reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir at a meeting in Delhi with top officials, including NSA Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar.

Though the distance between the two locations where firing was reported is more than 80 km by road, the areas are at a distance of 10-12 km through forests. Both places fall under the jurisdiction of the 19 infantry division stationed in Baramulla.

Nowgam and Lachipora are considered traditional infiltration routes in north Kashmir, which militants have been using since the 1990s.