The terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in which five Indian Army soldiers lost their lives has cast a shadow on Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s visit to India. The attack came just hours after the Pakistan Foreign Ministry announced that Bhutto would visit India for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ meeting to be held in May in Goa.
“The attack perpetrated by the terrorists with the help of Pakistan-based terror organisations JeM and LeT would add more bitterness in already strained relations between India and Pakistan,” diplomatic sources told The Daily Guardian.
Sources said that the Jaish-backed terror group, People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), has already claimed responsibility for the Poonch attack. “More clinching evidence about Pakistan’s involvement would emerge as the security agencies succeed in apprehending the terrorists,” sources added.
JeM is Pakistan based terror group which has been involved in several terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab. “The attack has definitely put a question mark on Bilawal Bhutto’s India visit for the SCO meeting,” officials told TDG.
According to sources, the Indian Army is prepared to launch a big counter-attack against terrorists who are suspected to be hiding in the Poonch region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is constantly taking the necessary updates on the development, officials said, adding that security forces have commenced a large-scale search in the thick woodland of the Bhata Durian region. “Suggestions are also coming from some diplomats that Bilawal should not be allowed to visit India after the terror attack,” sources said. “External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will not be holding a bilateral meeting with Bilawal even if he comes to attend the SCO meeting,” said an official.
Bilawal’s visit would be the first by any Pakistani Foreign Minister since Hina Rabbani Khar’s in 2011. It would also be the first high-level visit by a Pakistan official since Nawaz Sharif’s trip to India in 2014 for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Reacting to Pakistan’s announcement regarding Bilawal’s plan to attend the Goa meet, India on Thursday said that it would not be appropriate to focus on participation of one member in a multilateral event. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said that similar invitations have been extended to all SCO member states. He said,”It would not be really appropriate to look at participation by any one particular country”. The indication was clear that India sought to underplay the development and that New Delhi is also ready to deliver a strong message to Pakistan over terror issues in presence of its foreign minister. India has always maintained that there shall be no bilateral ties until Islamabad stops funding terror outfits and takes credible and convincing action against terrorists operating from the territories under Pakistan’s control.
Sources said that India is carefully keeping a close watch over statements coming from Pakistani leaders and ministers after this attack. “Any objectionable or instigating statement would be taken seriously and a counter verbal attack will be launched by New Delhi,” sources said. “With this being the case, the atmosphere would not then be positive and conducive for any Pakistan minister to visit India,” said an official.