An independent member of India’s upper house of parliament has introduced a private member’s bill to declare Pakistan a terrorist state.
“I had promised that I will do this after the September 18 Uri attack. The reason behind the bill is to put the spotlight on the need for India to take a strong view on Pakistan as a terror state. The main objective is to urge the government to take appropriate action to brand Pakistan a terrorist nation,” Chandrasekhar told IANS.
According to Hindustan Times, the bill dubbed as ‘The Declaration of Countries Sponsor of Terrorism Bill’ says: “Pakistan propagates and harbours agents of international terror who have repeatedly attacked the territory and people of our country… (It) poses a continual risk to the peace and security of the region”.
The bill also provides for imposing legal, economic and travel sanctions on citizens of the neighbouring country.
It also asks for prohibition on trade, receiving or making grants, financial remittances, investments and assets along with maritime activities and over flight over India. The bill further states that immunity of officials of such countries shall be revoked and they shall not be offered immunity from any legal case in India.
The bill states that immunity of officials of such countries shall be revoked and they shall not be offered immunity from any legal case in India.
Relations between the two nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours have plummeted in recent months, with New Delhi blaming Islamabad-based militants for a raid on an army base in its part of Kashmir in September that killed 19 soldiers.
India said it responded by carrying out strikes across the heavily-militarised border, although Islamabad denies these took place. The neighbours have been engaged in a diplomatic tit-for-tat ever since.
Courtesy: Hindustan Times
