Pakistan should be declared a terror state: former home secretary

India should adopt 'tit for tat' policy against Pak, says R K Singh

Former home secretary R K Singh on Tuesady advocated for adopting a "tit for tat" policy against Pakistan and stressed that there should be no bilateral talks with the neighbouring state till it supports terrorism.

His remarks comes ahead of Pakistan Prime Minister's foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz's visit to India to take part in the Heart of Asia Conference in Amritsar this week.

"His (Aziz) coming and participating in a multilateral conference, I don't think that it is a problem. But bilateral talks no. There is no point in talking to them (Pakistan). Whenever we have started a dialogue with them, we only had terror attacks," the BJP MP from Ara in Bihar said.

He said that it should be made clear to the neighbouring state that the present Indian government has a new policy of "hitting back".

Asked whether Pakistan should be declared a terror state, he said that such a declaration from India will not lead to anything but if it is done at the international forum, then sanctions will be imposed and Pakistan will "feel the pain".

"If we (India) alone declares it as terror state, nothing will happen. If it is declared at the international forum, then sanctions will be imposed on it. Then it (Pakistan) will feel the pain. And if Pakistan does not change its policies, then that time will also come.

"It is not only our problem, but it is world's problem."

"This attack is a message that no matter who the chief (Pakistan army) is, our (Pakistan's) policy remains the same. We need to tell them that our policy does not remain the same. During the previous governments, the policy was different. This government has a policy of hitting back," he said.

Referring to the recent terror attack on the army camp in Nagrota, he said the targeting is done by Pakistani army and ISI who not only train and arm these jihadis, but also send them across the border and give covering fire (while crossing border).

"One should not take it as a Jihadi attack. This attack is by Pakistani Army and ISI. They just use jihadis. And the answer to this is only one. If someone hits you, you hit back.

"This we have started through surgical strike. And it is not that we have done it once and we will not do again. It should be made clear to Pakistan that 'tit for tat' is our new policy," he said.