New Delhi : A review meeting on Tuesday convened by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in the wake of Uri terror attack is learnt to have discussed expected efforts by Pakistan to internationalise the Kashmir problem using Kashmiri diaspora.
At the meeting attended among others by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar and other senior officials from Home and Defence Ministries, it was felt that Pakistan would try to “tap” Kashmiris and the Kashmiri diaspora in the US and other European countries and “mobilise them” to rake up Kashmir issue across the globe.
Rajnath Singh reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and bordering areas in Punjab and Gujarat in the wake of Sunday’s terror strike at an army camp in Uri that left 18 soldiers dead. The Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad has been blamed for the act.
This was the third security review meeting he has chaired since the Uri attack and the situation in the border areas since Sunday, officials said.
A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security is slated for Wednesday and the Uri attack is expected to come up for discussions.
The presence of Jaishankar in Tuesday’s review meeting was explained in the context of the move by India to launch a diplomatic offensive to isolate Pakistan at global fora, starting with the upcoming UN General Assembly.
The Ministry of External Affairs is learnt to be enlisting support of SAARC members like Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka for the same at the regional level.
A high-level meeting held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday had authorised the diplomatic offensive.
Rajnath Singh was briefed at the meeting by Doval and others, including officials from the Defence Ministry, paramilitary forces and intelligence agencies, on the prevailing situation in the Kashmir Valley as well as along the Line of Control (LoC).
The Home Minister suggested that all necessary steps be taken to check infiltration along the LoC and the border areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Gujarat.
Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi also reviewed the ground situation in Srinagar and interacted with civil and security officials in the state.
Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told reporters on Tuesday that all necessary security-related and diplomatic actions against Pakistan and terror elements “will be taken after due consideration of all matters”.
Asked whether India was considering strike against terrorist camps based in Pakistan, he said no such strategic actions are taken after making announcements.