Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether a former President of a neighbouring country had stated in one of their news channels that their army had been training terrorists for creating disturbances in our country; and
(b) if so, the details thereof and reaction of the Government thereto?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
(a) & (b) Yes. Government had noted an interview on 25 October 2015 to a Pakistani news channel by former President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf wherein he stated that Pakistan Government had an active role in creating, training and giving other support to Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) and other terrorist groups to conduct anti-India activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Government maintains its position that using terrorism as an instrument of State policy is unacceptable. Continued terrorism directed against India emanating from territory under Pakistan’s control remains a core concern for us. India has repeatedly called upon Pakistan to abide by its commitment made and repeated on several occasions at the highest level for not allowing territory under its control for aiding and abetting in any manner terrorism directed against India. It has also been stressed that Pakistan should take determined and effective action to dismantle terrorist infrastructure on the territory under its control.