Sushma names Pak & JeM, pushes for 'zero tolerance' against terror at RIC

"Such dastardly terrorist attacks (like in Pulwama) are a grim reminder for the need for all the countries to show zero tolerance to terrorism and take decisive action against it," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said in her opening remarks at the 16th Foreign Ministers meet of the trilateral Russia-India-China (RIC) grouping here.

She said, following the Pulwama terrorist attack, instead of taking seriously the calls by international community to act against Jaish-e-Mohammad and other terror groups, "Pakistan denied any knowledge of the attack and outrightly dismissed claims by Jaish-e-Mohammed".

Meanwhile, a Joint Statement issued at the meeting of three RIC Foreign Ministers-- Ms Swaraj, Wang Yi (China) and Sergey Lavrov (Russia) - "stressed that those committing, orchestrating, inciting or supporting terrorist acts must be held accountable and brought to justice in accordance with existing international commitments on countering terrorism, including the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the FATF standards".

The Joint Statement also "reiterated that states and their competent agencies (must) play a central role in both national and international counter-terrorism efforts".

"They also stressed that terrorist groups cannot be supported and used in political and geopolitical goals". In her first formal speech at any multi-nation meet after Indian Air Force carried out an operation destroying the 'biggest' JeM camp at Balakot in Pakistan, Ms Swaraj said, "In the light of continuing refusal of Pakistan to acknowledge and act against terror groups on its territory, and based on credible information that JeM was planning other attacks in various parts of India, Government of India decided to take preemptive action".

"The target was selected in order to avoid civilian causalities. This was not a military operation" she told the PIC leaders adding no military installations were targeted.

"The limited objective of the preemptive strike was to act decisively against the terrorist infrastructure of JeM in order to preempt another terror attack in India. India does not wish to see further escalation of the situation. India will continue to act with responsibility and restrain," she said.