India has right to defend against terror: U.S.

U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton and his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval agreed to deal with anti-India terror groups that operate from Pakistan.

Ajit Doval. File

The United States supported India’s sovereign right to counter cross-border terrorism.

In a telephone conversation between National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and his U.S. counterpart, John Bolton, on Friday, both sides agreed to deal with the anti-India terror groups that operated from Pakistan.

“Mr. Bolton supported India’s right to self-defence against cross-border terrorism. He offered all assistance to India to bring the perpetrators and backers of the attack promptly to justice,” said the External Affairs Ministry in a statement narrating the conversation between the two. Mr. Bolton also offered his condolences to India.

Both the officials resolved to stop Pakistan from becoming a haven for groups that targeted India and other countries in the region.

“I expressed condolences to NSA Doval yesterday [Friday] for the reprehensible terrorist attack on India. Pakistan must crack down on JeM [Jaish-e-Mohammad] and all terrorists operating from its territory. Countries should uphold UNSC [United Nations Security Council] responsibilities to deny safe haven and support for terrorists,” Mr. Bolton said in a social media post.

The conversation came soon after Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale briefed Ambassadors of 25 countries about the security situation after the JeM claimed responsibility for the suicide attack that killed at least 40 CRPF personnel.