New Delhi, Apr 7, 2019 : Joining issue with Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi for his remarks that India could 'attack' its western neighbour in April, New Delhi on Sunday said the government here "reserves the right to respond firmly and decisively" to any cross border terrorist attack.
In response to queries on a statement made by Mr Qureshi, MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar said "India rejects the irresponsible and preposterous statement by the Foreign Minister of Pakistan with
a clear objective of whipping up war hysteria in the region".
"This public gimmick appears to be a call to Pakistan-based terrorists to undertake a terror attack in India. It has been made clear to Pakistan that it cannot absolve itself of responsibility of a cross border terrorist attack in India," he said.
Mr Kumar maintained - "No attempt at creating an alibi for its complicity in such attacks will succeed".
The MEA spokesman asserted that - "Pakistan needs to take credible and irreversible steps against terrorism operating from all territories under its control rather than making hysterical statements to obfuscate the core issue that bedevils our region: cross- border terrorism".
He said, Islamabad would be "advised" to use established diplomatic and DGMO channels to share any actionable and credible intelligence it has about imminent terror attacks.
"India reserves the right to respond firmly and decisively to any cross border terrorist attack," he asserted.
The remarks from the MEA spokesman comes hours after Pakistan Foreign Minister Mr Qureshi alleged that India "is hatching a new plot" and may resort to military aggression against the country between April 16 and 20, according to media reports in Pakistan.
"An incident similar to Pulwama could recur in the occupied Kashmir Valley," Ary News quoted him as claiming in reference to Pulwama terror attack by Jaish-e-Mohammed on February 14.
"Pakistan has reliable intelligence inputs that India is hatching a new plot and may resort to military aggression against Pakistan between April 16-20," Mr Qureshi has said. ( Agency )