In desperate attempt to cool down Indian tempers, Pak bans Hafiz Cos

JAMMU: In wake of reports suggesting that India was taking international community into confidence for a major punitive action against Pakistan, the beleaguered Islamabad Thursday made several desperate attempts to cool down tempers in New Delhi.

An assessment of many reports suggest that after a long day of hectic activities, Pakistan moved swiftly to ban the 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed-led Jamat-ud-Dawa and its charity wing Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation, amid intense global pressure to rein in the militant groups following the Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 CRPF soldiers.

A spokesman of the Interior Ministry said that the decision to ban these groups was taken during a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan at his office on Thursday.

Earlier in the day, media reported that Prime Minister Imran Khan authorised the military to "respond decisively and comprehensively to any aggression or misadventure" by India, amidst heightened tensions between the two sides following the Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 CRPF soldiers.

Days after the terror strike by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said security forces have been given free hand to avenge the dastardly act.

Prime Minister Khan, who chaired a key meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) here on Thursday, said the Pakistan government was "determined to demonstrate" that it is capable of protecting its people.

He authorised the armed forces of Pakistan to "respond decisively and comprehensively to any aggression or misadventure by India," said a statement issued after the meeting.

"This is a new Pakistan and we are determined to demonstrate to our people that the State is capable of protecting them," Khan said.

The country's top civilian and military leadership, which discussed situation arising after the Pulwama attack, said that "Pakistan is not involved in any way, means or form in Pulwama incident and it was conceived, planned and executed indigenously", according to the statement.

It said Pakistan has sincerely offered investigation of the "incident" and dialogue on the issue of terrorism among other disputed issues with India.

"We expect India to positively respond to these offers," it said, adding that based on the investigation or any tangible evidence provided, Pakistan shall take action against anyone found using its soil.

The NSC urged the global community to play its part in resolving the Kashmir issue.

In a video message on Tuesday, Khan assured India that he would act against the perpetrators of the Pulwama terror attack if New Delhi shares "actionable intelligence", but warned against any "revenge" retaliatory action.

India rubbished Khan's comments, saying disclaiming Pakistan's link with terrorist attacks is an oft-repeated excuse by the "nerve centre" of terrorism.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi on Tuesday said India was not surprised that Khan refused to acknowledge the attack on India's security forces in Pulwama as an act of terrorism, adding his offer to investigate the attack if provided proof is a "lame excuse".

Ahead of the NSC meeting on Thursday, Prime Minister Khan and Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa held a one-on-one meeting during which they discussed region's security situation.

The NSC meeting was attended by Army chief General Bajwa, services chiefs, heads of intelligence agencies, security officials and federal and state ministers for finance, defence, foreign affairs and interior.

Khan also directed both the interior ministry and the security institutions to immediately accelerate actions on ground to ensure that militancy and extremism are routed from the society and the country.