United States Supports India Targeting Jaish Biggest Training Centre

UNITED  States has US supported India  for targeting terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed’s biggest training camp at Balakot, 80 km  from Line of Control.  National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Wednesday night spoke to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over the phone amid tensions between India and Pakistan. Doval reportedly informed Pompeo that Jaish was planning further terrorist action against India after Pulwama massacre.  Pompeo had also spoken to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistan counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi over telephone and expressed concern over escalating tension between the two nations post Pulwama carnage. The Trump Administration has asked Pakistan to take “meaningful action” against terrorist groups operating on its soil and also advising New Delhi and Islamabad to exercise restraint for worsening relations further. In Islamabad, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said all wars in the history had been miscalculated proposing dialogue with India amid tension. He reiterated his dialogue offer to India for resolving issues between the two nations. “I wanted to take the nation into confidence over the prevailing situation in the country,” he said after Pakistan Air Force shot down one Indian Air Force fighter jet for allegedly violating the Pakistani airspace again. Mike Pompeo told Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to avoid military action.  Pompeo emphasised the close security partnership between the US and India and shared goal of maintaining peace and security in the region. His statement came amid growing tensions between the two countries after 44 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed in a suicide attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on February 14.Following the incident, India on Tuesday bombed and destroyed JeM’s biggest training camp in Balakot in Pakistan’s restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province killing a “very large number” of terrorists, trainers and senior commanders. Pompeo is currently in Vietnam to attend the second summit between President Donald Trump and the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.”Following Indian counter-terrorism actions on February 26, I spoke with Indian Minister of External Affairs Swaraj to emphasize our close security partnership and shared goal of maintaining peace and security in the region,” Pompeo said in a statement.”I also spoke to Pakistani Foreign Minister Qureshi to underscore the priority of de-escalating current tensions by avoiding military action, and the urgency of Pakistan taking meaningful action against terrorist groups operating on its soil,” Pompeo said. “I expressed to both Ministers that we encourage India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, and avoid escalation at any cost. I also encouraged both ministers to prioritise direct communication and avoid further military activity,” said the Secretary of State. Last week, US National Security Adviser John Bolton told his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval that America supports India’s right to self-defence as both sides vowed to work together to ensure that Pakistan ceases to be a safe haven for JeM and other terror groups. “We offered India that Pakistan will conduct investigation into the Pulwama attack if actionable evidence is provided to us. We were ready for full cooperation,” he reminded.“We waited to take action and implemented the plan today. All wars in world history have been miscalculated; those who started the wars did not know where it will end, the cricketer turned politician ended.  On Tuesday morning, Indian Air Force jets flew across the Line of Control to blow up the camp. India alleges that Pakistan continues to violate International border (picture  courtesy : Zilow).