Osama killing shows Pakistan epicentre of terror: BJP (Lead)
May 2nd, 2011 - 5:22 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, May 2 (IANS) The killing of Osama bin Laden near the Pakistani capital was “final confirmation” that Pakistan remained the “epicentre of terrorism”, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said Monday.
“He was killed in Pakistan, almost in the backyard of its capital Islamabad, which is a final confirmation of the fact that Pakistan remains the epicentre of terrorism,” said BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad.
“Terrorists and terrorism are encouraged and given shelter (by Pakistan),” he added.
“Without the patronage of elements in government of Pakistan, bin Laden would not have remained secure for so many years.”
Asked whether India should also start armed action against terror havens against India in Pakistan, Prasad said: “It has been our belief that strong action be taken against terrorists. This is the wish of all Indians too.”
However, he said the decision had to be taken by the government. “This is an opportunity for the government to introspect its Pakistan policy.”
“Those who masterminded 26/11 still have safe sanctuary in Pakistan,” he added.
The BJP demanded that Pakistan hand over to India the terrorists responsible for the 26/11 attacks.
“Surely, if America is entitled to undertake a campaign against terrorism, India is also entitled to their (26/11 masterminds’) hand-over,” Prasad said.
Referring to cricket diplomacy following Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inviting his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani to watch the cricket World Cup India-Pakistan semifinal, he said “cricket ball and terrorist bombs cannot co-exist together”.
He added that Osama, the founder of the Al Qaeda, was the most dangerous face of terrorism and needed to be punished for his evil ideology.
“The BJP is of the view that elimination of Osama is a matter of assurance. He was the most visible and dangerous face of global and jihadi terror,” said Prasad.
“His elimination sends the right signal… though he is dead, he had to be punished for the evil ideology of terrorism that he nurtured and propagated,” added Prasad.
US President Barack Obama Monday announced that Osama, the world’s most wanted terrorist, had been killed in Abbottabad, 122 kms from the capital Islamabad.
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