published by, Sanstuti Nath
Last Update: April 27, 2023, 3:07 PM IST
Five army personnel were killed and another seriously injured when their vehicle caught fire after a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch on Thursday. (File Photo/PTI)
“Prime Minister Modi has not reacted by condemning the terror attack, even as reports indicate Taliban involvement,” Khera said.
The Congress on Thursday questioned the Modi government’s “silence” on the Poonch attack and cited several recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir to accuse the Center of endangering national security.
Five army personnel were killed and another seriously injured on April 20 when their vehicle caught fire after a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch.
Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Congress media department chief Pawan Khera said that seven days have passed, but the Prime Minister Narendra Modi Five Indian Army soldiers “did not utter a single word” of condolence over the Poonch terror attack but were seen making a crude joke about a “girl’s suicide” at a media event on Thursday.
“PM Modi has not responded by condemning the terror attack, even as reports indicate links to the Taliban,” Khera said.
He said several media reports indicate that the highly penetrative and ricocheting ‘steel core’ bullets used by terrorists were left behind by US troops in Afghanistan after they left the country in August 2021.
He claimed that the bullets were received from the Taliban by terrorist groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
“Chinese-made ‘steel core’ bullets capable of penetrating armor shields were used by NATO forces during the war. Afghanistan Khera said, the war and these bullets are part of the ammunition that NATO forces have left after leaving Afghanistan.
“Interestingly, the latest report by the US’ SIGAR (Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction) released on February 28 states, ‘The Taliban may sell a portion of the captured weapons and equipment to increase their revenue streams. Alternatively, the Taliban may not have control over the entire Afghan National Security Force (ANDSF) arsenal, which could mean that the equipment may be acquired by smugglers or gun dealers and sold on the open market.
Khera also cited what the New York Times claims American-made equipment, including American-made pistols, rifles, grenades, binoculars and night vision goggles, has reached the hands of Afghan gun dealers.
“In this context, it is important to note that, defying India’s previous foreign policy stance, the Modi government has started engaging with the Taliban. In the 2023 budget, the Modi government announced an aid of Rs 200 crore for Afghanistan,” he said.
He also referred to the recent terror attacks in Poonch and Rajouri.
Khera stressed that the Congress is united with the country in fighting terrorism.
Questioning the government, the Congress leader asked why the Modi government is “silent” on the Poonch terror attack.
Is it not true that there have been at least 18 major terror attacks on security establishments including CRPF camps, army camps, air force stations and military stations with loss of our precious lives, he asked.
Khera said, “Given that the Poonch attack has Taliban links, is it appropriate for the Modi government to begin its diplomatic outreach and engagement with the Taliban?”
Is it not true that the Modi government has put national security at risk even as 1,249 terror attacks took place in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 350 civilians were killed and 569 jawans were martyred, he asked.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)