NEW DELHI: After attending the all-party meeting convened by the Centre in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi voiced strong support for punitive measures against Pakistan and welcomed the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty. He also endorsed the decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security on Wednesday.
“It is very good that the Indus Water Treaty has been suspended but where will we keep the water? We will support whatever decision the central government takes. This is not a political issue,” Owaisi said, underscoring his party’s backing for the government’s stance.
Calling for firm international and national action, Owaisi added, “The central government can take action against the nation which shelters the terrorist groups. The international law also permits us to do an air and naval blockade in self-defence against Pakistan and impose sanctions on Pakistan on arms sales.”
He also raised questions about security preparedness in Pahalgam at the time of the attack. “Why was the CRPF not deployed at the Baisaran meadow? Why did the quick reaction team take one hour to reach there and they shot people by asking their religion?” he said.
Owaisi condemned the sectarian nature of the killings and appealed for restraint against Kashmiris in the aftermath. “I condemn the way the terrorists killed people by asking about their religion.” he said, adding,
“False propaganda against the Kashmiris and Kashmiri students should be stopped.”
The all-party meeting was attended by key leaders including Union Ministers JP Nadda and Kiren Rijiju, External affairs minister S Jaishankar, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
Tuesday’s attack at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam left 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen dead, with many others injured. It has been termed the worst such assault in the valley since the 2019 Pulwama terror attack that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF jawans.
In response, India has initiated strong diplomatic and strategic countermeasures, citing Pakistan’s continued support for cross-border terrorism.
