India begins diplomatic offensive to isolate Pakistan

Day after Pulwama attack, India calls meeting of envoys from China, Gulf, Europe, Japan & South Korea to brief them on Pakistan’s role in sponsoring terrorism.

A CRPF soldier stands guard near the site of suicide bomb attack at Lathepora Awantipora in Pulwama | S Irfan | PTI File photo

New Delhi: Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale Friday called a meeting of envoys from China, the Gulf, Europe, Japan and South Korea to brief them on Pakistan’s role in sponsoring terrorism in light of the Pulawama attack, a diplomatic source told ThePrint.

The move came within hours of India resolving at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security that it will leave no stone unturned in ensuring Pakistan’s “complete diplomatic isolation”.

The diplomatic source said India had held a meeting with Chinese envoy Luo Zhaohui, where it made a “solid case” on why Beijing should look at supporting India in its move to designate Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar a global terrorist. Pakistan-based JeM has claimed responsibility for Thursday’s attack, which is among the worst strikes against the Indian security forces in Kashmir.

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#Chinese State Councilor & FM #WangYi wrote to EAM @SushmaSwaraj, condemned the #Pulwama suicide attack, expressed deep sympathy to families of the victims & injured, and stressed that the #Chinese side resolutely opposes and strongly condemns all forms of terrorism.

— Sun Weidong (@China_Amb_India) February 15, 2019

China has been stalling Indian and international efforts at the United Nations to get Azhar banned.

According to the source, the foreign secretary met 25 heads of missions in all.

“All the heads of missions were left in no doubt about the role played by Pakistan-based and supported Jaish-e-Mohammed in the terrorist attack, and about our demand that Pakistan cease, forthwith, all support and financing to terror groups operating from areas under their control,” the source said.

“The foreign secretary also highlighted the role played by Pakistan in using terrorism as an instrument of state policy,” the source added.

The government is expected to hold several such meetings with envoys from other countries to ensure that Pakistan is diplomatically isolated and no business is carried out with them, the source told ThePrint.

‘A very heavy price’

The government is said to have called its High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ajay Bisaria, back to hold discussions with him and firm up India’s course of action.

This comes after the Ministry of External Affairs summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood as well as their minister (political) at the High Commission Abdul Hameed.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that Pakistan will have to pay a “very heavy price” for Thursday’s attack, in which at least 40 CRPF personnel were killed and 38 wounded.

Remains of the deceased CRPF personnel are being sent to their homes across the nation, including Kolkata, Howrah, Chennai, Bhopal, Allahabad, Jaipur, Varanasi, Ranchi, Coimbatore, Thiruvananthapuram and Shamli.

The personnel were on their way from Jammu to Srinagar through the national highway when a vehicle packed with explosives rammed into their convoy.

This report was updated with additional details about the foreign secretary’s meetings with foreign heads of missions.