'Uri attack among many from Pak'

India on Thursday stepped up offensive against Pakistan saying the “dastardly” Uri attack was one among a series of terror strikes for which all logistical help originated from across the border.

New Delhi’s strong remarks came at the second meeting of the high level group of experts to strengthen the Saarc anti-terrorism mechanism here in the presence of Pakistani officials. Delegations from other Saarc countries — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka — were also present.

In his opening remarks, Director of Intelligence Bureau Dineshwar Sharma asked Saarc nations to strictly enforce sanctions against terrorist entities and individuals. India has been maintaining that Pakistan was allowing terrorists freedom and not taking action despite international sanctions.

Mincing no words on the Uri terror strike in which 18 soldiers were killed last Sunday, Sharma said: “This incident is only one in a series of such dastardly acts during the last few decades for which planning, financing, training, arming and indoctrination on religious lines owe their origins to sources beyond the borders of India.”  Pakistan has not sent its top security officials, including its Intelligence Bureau chief Aftab Sultan, while other countries have sent senior officials with the Maldives delegation being led by its deputy minister for home affairs.

India sees Pakistan’s decision to send two counsellors from High Commission in New Delhi as an effort to shield their top officials from being cornered on charges of aiding terrorism. Acknowledging that terrorism has emerged as a big challenge, Sharma said no country can tackle terrorism on its own. Close cooperation and sharing of real-time intelligence are imperative, he said.

Talking about how terror outfits use easily accessible technology to attack both soft and hard targets, he pointed out that self-radicalisation over Internet and social media, and spread of influence of Islamic State all over has added new dimensions to the threat.