UK assures support to India in fight against terrorism amid Pulwama tensions

United Kingdom's National Security Advisor (NSA) Mark Sedwill on Thursday spoke to his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval and offered all assistance, including intelligence sharing to deal with any form of terrorism, sources said. During the talks, Sedwill expressed solidarity with India in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack, sources said.

He said that all assistance in dealing with any form of terrorism will be extended to India bilaterally through counter-terrorism cooperation, intelligence sharing and by bringing the perpetrators of terrorist attacks to justice, they said. Several countries have backed India in its fight against terrorism and have urged New Delhi and Islamabad to exercise restraint to avoid further provocations.

Doval on Tuesday spoke to his US counterpart John Bolton and discussed the latest situation in the context of India-Pakistan relations. It was the third exchange between the two NSAs after the February 14 Pulwama attack. In the aftermath of the dastardly terror attack, the US had supported India’s right to self-defence. It was seen as a strong support to India on the issue of terrorism emanating from Pakistan. Both the sides also agreed to designate JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.

In fact, Washington had termed New Delhi’s February 26 air strike at a JeM terror training camp in Balakot in Pakistan as a counter-terrorism action. It has also urged Pakistan to take effective action against proscribed terrorists and terror outfits. There has been intense global pressure against Pakistan to stop supporting terrorists and terror outfits after India mounted a diplomatic campaign in this regard.

Tensions have escalated between India and Pakistan following the Pulwama attack, in which 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives when a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into their convoy. JeM had claimed responsibility for the attack. Last month, France said it stands with India in the fight against terror and asked both New Delhi and Islamabad to exercise restraint to avert any risk of military escalation and preserve strategic stability in the region.

It also asked Pakistan to put an end to operations of terror groups in the country, while recognising India’s legitimacy to ensure its security against cross-border terrorism. On March 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin telephoned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed his deep condolences on the Pulwama terror attack. He also conveyed solidarity of the people of Russia with the people of India in the fight against terrorism.

In a veiled reference to Pakistan, both leaders agreed that the concerned should stop all support to terrorism. "The Prime Minister thanked President Putin for Russia’s steadfast support for India’s efforts to protect its interests against cross-border terror attacks and renewed India’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in countering terrorism as a pillar of privileged and special strategic partnership," read a press statement.

(With inputs from agencies.)