India has also decided to initiate all possible diplomatic steps to ensure the complete isolation of Pakistan from the international community, Jaitley informed.
PM Modi chairs meeting of Cabinet Council of Security at Lok Kalyan Marg. (Photo: Twitter | @PIB_India)
In a major announcement, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday said that India has taken the decision to withdraw the ‘most favoured nation’ status granted to Pakistan and initiate steps to isolate the neighbouring country from the international community.
Jaitley was talking to media after the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.
The announcement comes a day after at least 44 CRPF jawans were killed and nearly 45 seriously injured in a suicide attack when an explosive-laden car rammed into a bus they were travelling in. The terror strike took place near Letapora of Pulwama in South Kashmir.
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The Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) claimed responsibility for the suicide attack and released a video clip of the suicide bomber, a ‘commander’ identified as Adil Ahmad Dar.
Jaitley further said that the Ministry of External Affairs will initiate all possible diplomatic steps to ensure the complete isolation of Pakistan from the international community which is accused of having a direct hand in the cowardly act.
The Union minister said the MEA will engage with the international community to ensure that convention on international terrorism is adopted
In a strong warning, Jaitley said the people responsible for the terror act and those who have supported it will have to pay a heavy price.
He added that the security forces will be given a free hand to ensure that those responsible for the heinous attack are punished.
The CCS meeting was called to assess the situation and discuss India’s response to the terrorist attack on the CRPF convoy on Thursday.
Read | Rajnath Singh to visit Kashmir today, says Pulwama terror attack will be avenged
Meanwhile, Home Minister Rajnath Singh left for Srinagar in the wake of the brutal attack.
The minister is accompanied by senior officials including Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, DG CRPF RR Bhatnagar and Additional Director IB Arvind Kumar.
The ministry is closely monitoring the situation.
In a statement, Rajnath Singh had said the Central government was determined to foiling the designs of those who wanted to disrupt peace through such a terror attack “sponsored and sheltered by Pakistan”.
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