Smarting under furious rebuke by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for seeking to rake up Kashmir issue, Pakistan is now trying to build up its image as a nation which is doing a lot to tackle terrorism. Pakistan is seeking a certificate from the world community for its so-called victory against terrorism. Apart from sending out a message to the world community to this effect, Pakistan’s motive is also to falsify India’s claim that it is involved in crossborder terrorism in Kashmir.
In an indication of this campaign of Pakistan, President Arif Alvi on the occasion of country’s Independence Day said that his nation “has overcome several challenges in the recent years including defeating terrorism and extremism despite external and internal hurdles.”
This was widely reported by China’s state media in a bid to make the statement go viral globally. China is also keen to help Pakistan get the world’s pat on its back. “MEA is alert to this ploy of Pakistan, and is cautiously watching what is going to be its diplomatic mission to try to take a high pedestal in the world which it does not deserve,” said an MEA official. Pakistan is trying to give a clean chit to itself over terrorism and it’s in mission mode to do so as hinted by Arif Alvi, said the official. But India won’t let Pakistan succeed in its ploy. New Delhi will puncture its claim on fighting against terrorism.
Sources say EAM S. Jaishankar had a feedback from Indian High Commission that Pakistan was planning to try and convince the world community of it being a sincere state fighting against terrorism. Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed being in jail is one of the examples that Pakistan is offering to the world in a bid to buttress its claim.
So, the MEA has already alerted its diplomatic set-up to scuttle this move by Pakistan. It was part of MEA’s plan that spokesman Anurag Shrivastava hours after Alvi’s statement lambasted Pakistan saying that Islamabad not only harbours terror outfits but also encourages them.
The reaction was given on the report that former UN-designated terrorist Gulbuddin Hekmatyar participated in an event hosted by Pakistan’s mission in Afghanistan. Shrivastava asserted that India hopes that such participation in public events by a former UN-designated terrorist would not go unnoticed. This event gave MEA a solid ground to expose Pakistan exactly when it was seeking a certificate from the world.
In a very calculated diplomatic move, the MEA spokesman sent out a message to UN and other world community nations about a terrorist being participant in a Pakistan’s official function. “How can this country claim to have fought terrorism,” asks an MEA official.