MEA reminds US of Pak’s terror record, role in sheltering Laden

A day after top military commander of the United States said that Pakistan had been a ‘phenomenal partner’ in anti-terrorism operations, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs responded by reminding the US about Pakistan’s record in abetting terrorism globally.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said there was a very clear record of “what Pakistan actually is”. “We all know Pahalgam attack is only the most recent example of cross-border terrorism,” he noted.

Jaiswal reminded the US how the conspirator of 26/11 terror attacks Tahawwur Rana was extradited from the US to India.

US Department of Justice records show that Rana was a former officer in the Pakistan Army and was working with the Lashkar-e-Toiba.

He further pointed out that it was Pakistan that gave shelter to Osama Bin Laden. “It is significant that the person – Dr Shakil Afridi – who helped locate Osama Bin laden is still imprisoned by the Pakistani military,” said Jaiswal.

US Army Gen Michael E Kurilla, commander of the US Central Command, was appearing before the House Armed Services Committee in Washington DC on June 10, when he batted for Pakistan.

In his testimony before the committee in the US, he lauded the role of Pakistani military and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir in combating ISIS-Khorasan.

“They're in an active counterterrorism fight right now and they have been a phenomenal partner in counterterrorism,” the US military commander had said.

The remarks had come at a time when India has gone all out to highlight Pakistan’s support for cross-border terrorism in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.