India resolves to fight terror after Pakistan-backed JeM attack in J&K

India, while condemning in the strongest terms the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday perpetrated by the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) that claimed the lives of over 40 CRPF troopers, said it is determined to fight the menace of terrorism. "The government of India condemns in the strongest possible terms the cowardly terrorist attack on our brave security forces in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, earlier today," the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

"This heinous and despicable act has been perpetrated by Jaish-e-Mohammed, a Pakistan-based and supported terrorist organisation proscribed by the United Nations and other countries," the statement said. "This terror group is led by the international terrorist Masood Azhar, who has been given full freedom by government of Pakistan to operate and expand his terror infrastructure in territories under the control of Pakistan and to carry out attacks in India and elsewhere with impunity."

In the worst-ever terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir since militancy erupted in 1989, a suicide bomber rammed his SUV packed with explosives into a CRPF bus on the Srinagar-Jammu highway in Pulwama district, killing at least 43 troopers and leaving the security establishment stunned. The JeM claimed responsibility for the horror and released a video clip of the suicide bomber, a 'commander' identified as Adil Ahmad Dar, which it claimed was shot before the young man carried out the strike in Lethpora, about 30 km from here.

The External Affairs Ministry statement said: "India is firmly and resolutely committed to take all necessary measures to safeguard national security". "We are equally resolved to fight against the menace of terrorism," it stated.

"We demand that Pakistan stop supporting terrorists and terror groups operating from their territory and dismantle the infrastructure operated by terrorist outfits to launch attacks in other countries." New Delhi also reiterated its appeal to the international community to support the proposal to list terrorists, including JeM Chief Masood Azhar, as a designated terrorist under the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council and to ban terrorist organisations operating from territories controlled by Pakistan.

"We express our sincere condolences to the family members of our fearless security personnel who have made the supreme sacrifice," the statement said.