India hopes bill to designate Pak a terror state will be treated with seriousess

New Delhi, Sept 22: India today hoped that the bill introduced by two senior American lawmakers in the US House of Representatives to designate Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism, will be treated with "utmost seriousness".

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup also said India has raised with China the recent Uri attack and Pakistan's involvement in it as well as the issue of UN designation for Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar by the 1267 Sanctions Committee.

Replying to a query on the 'Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation Act (HR 6069)' bill by two US Senators, Swarup said, "It reflects the acknowledgement in the US Congress that a country to which the US had channelled so much aid is actually the epicentre of terrorism which has also targeted Americans and American interests.

"The US Congress has also blocked USD 300 million aid to Pakistan under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) due to Pakistan's insufficient action against the dreaded Haqqani network.

Earlier, the US Congress had also objected to the sale of F-16s (planes) to Pakistan. "The present bill has been introduced by two of the seniormost and highly respected members of the Congress and I am sure it will be treated with utmost seriousness."

The bill has been moved by Republican Ted Poe and Democrat Dana Rohrabacher, who is a ranking member of the influential Congressional Committee on Terrorism. "It is time we stopped paying Pakistan for its betrayal and designate it for what it is: a state sponsor of terrorism," said Poe, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism.

Swarup also mentioned that India has taken up with China the Uri attack and banning of Azhar. However, he did not elaborate further.

It is understood that the issues have been taken at the "diplomatic level". China had blocked India's effort to get Azhar, a Mumbai terror attack mastermind, banned by the UN.

Reacting to reports that Russia has cancelled the joint exercise with Pakistan in PoK, he said India's "sensitivities" towards Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism are well-known and same was also conveyed to its strategic partner, Russia.

PTI