Pakistan permits its territory being used by 'non state actors' to disrupt peace in South Asia: Manish Tewari

In the light of the ongoing Keran Sector militancy operation, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari on Monday said that it was unfortunate that Pakistan is allowing its territory to be used by 'non state actors', to disrupt peace in the South Asia.

"It is extremely unfortunate that Pakistan is allowing its territory to be used by non-state actors," Tewari said.

"Pakistan must ensure that their territory isn't used for such purposes as its detrimental for peace in South Asia," he added.

Earlier today, the Ministry of External Affairs backed the armed forces in Keran Sector, who are currently in their 14th day of operation battling militancy and safeguarding the sanctity of the Line of Control, and said that the Ministry would intervene only after the conclusion of the Army's operation there, if necessary.

Earlier, President Pranab Mukherjee spoke tough on terror, during his state visit to Belgium, and said in an interview to Euronews: "Terrorist activities must be curbed. And state-sponsored terrorism can never be accepted. Therefore, repeatedly we are saying, please dismantle the terrorist outfits which are located in your ( Pakistan) area."

The gunfight between the Army and the terrorists is still on. The Army is battling 30 to 40 terrorists who had infiltrated in the Keran sector.

On Friday, Army Chief General Bikram Singh assured that the terrorists will be flushed out the area soon, and said that the ongoing operation was under control.

"There is nothing like that. It was an infiltration attempt by about 30 to 40 terrorists; they attempted this infiltration at four or five places. We had information about it. They have been stopped, prevented, neutralized some of them and operations are on to flush them out," said General Singh, when asked that there are media speculations about the present situation in Keran Sector being another Kargil.

"No village has been occupied. It's an area where they have come in, we are dominating from all sides and the terrorists are holed up. It's a broken ground, it's very difficult terrain; they are stuck in that and we will take them on," he added.

Last month, when Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh met Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, it was decided to task the DGMOs of both countries o prepare a strategy for effective restoration of the ceasefire along the LoC.