Cong’s Sachin Pilot told TOI’s Subodh Ghildiyal Osama bin Laden was found hiding in a Pakistan military town and India has again exposed Pakistan as a country that harbours terror. Excerpts:
India did what had to be done, has again exposed Pak as terror haven: Pilot
Congress leader and Territorial Army officer Sachin Pilot said Osama bin Laden was found hiding in a Pakistan military town and India has again exposed Pakistan as a country that harbours terror.He told Subodh Ghildiyal that India has done what needed to be done post-Pahalgam, and Congress stands firmly with the govt and the armed forces.How do you view India’s offensive response against Pakistan?The valour and bravery of the Indian armed forces is second to none, and Pakistan has got a befitting reply to the misadventure they conducted in Pahalgam. The brutal killings of innocent tourists was intolerable. India has responded adequately, the attack on terror infrastructure was imminent, it had to be done. The Indian armed forces have done an exemplary job of avoiding civilian casualties and targeting those areas and individuals who have always propagated terror in India. We should not forget that it was Pakistan that gave a safe haven to Osama bin Laden, and that too in Abbottabad, which is a military station. It shows that the Pakistan military was involved in protecting Osama. In fact, all the known terrorists, like Masood Azhar, Hafiz Saeed, have been associated with the State of Pakistan. Now, Pakistan is calling for a fair inquiry, but inquiry into the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks clearly showed that Pakistan was directly involved in those attacks. Pakistan has been directly involved in all terror attacks that have taken place in India in the last 20 years. That is why Pakistan is in the UN watch list of nations harbouring terror. Pakistan has to be taught a lesson and I think time has come to eradicate terror from its root. Pakistan cannot conduct these barbaric atrocities on Indian soil any more.You mean after Osama, Pakistan has again been exposed for its terror links?It is well documented and world acknowledges it. Senior Pakistani ministers have said for decades that Pakistan used terror as a state policy and harboured and nurtured terror camps. It is beyond doubt. That is why Pakistan has not got any support from any major player in the world.What do you say about Congress’s stand on the post-Pahalgam situation?The day the Pahalgam terror attack happened, the Congress president immediately announced that Congress, as the principal opposition party, stood with the govt in any adequate response that needed to be given to Pakistan. The Congress Working Committee passed a unanimous resolution supporting the govt. Rahul Gandhi said the same. Whatever our differing political opinions and ideologies within, when it comes to the nation and to countering Pakistani terror, we are united. The 1.4 billion people support the action taken by the armed forces.Is there a shift in Congress’s stand?There are no two views on the issue. Let’s not forget that when Indira Gandhi as PM was forced into a corner and a war had to be waged to break Pakistan into two parts and Bangladesh was created, entire country, including Atal Bihari Vajpayee, supported her actions. When Parliament was attacked on Dec 13, Sonia Gandhi as leader of opposition told PM Vajpayee on the floor of the house that entire Congress and opposition was with him in giving Pakistan a befitting reply. The same tradition continues. Whether Congress is in govt or opposition, we always have the policy of ‘nation first’ and zero tolerance on terror. It is Congress that has lost its leaders to terror, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. We know how to fight terror. We are on the frontlines of fighting terror. And, Indian security, life of its citizens, is far more important that any other political issue or ideology.There is a general concern about escalation.Look. What was needed to be done has been done and now we have to wait and watch how the situation develops. There is a flood of good and bad information in the public domain. The all-party meeting has happened. Some information cannot be divulged in national interest, and I, too, won’t comment on it. But the Indian people are behind the govt and the armed forces in fighting terror. We have never tried to disturb any country but when faced with a challenge, we fight with full force. Whatever the consequences, terror has to be rooted out from Pakistani terrain. The entire world supports India and Congress stands with the armed forces.How do you see the whole situation as an army man?Besides being a politician, I do serve in the Territorial Army, and I could not be more proud of what our defence forces have done over last 70 years and continue to do. We owe a large debt to all those in uniform. The armed forces have shown that they are second to none. The technology, bravery and precision involved in the way the army conducted these operations shows that it is a world class organisation. We are best not just in tech and equipment but also in morale and love for the motherland.Why did Congress take the decision to pause its political activities?Because this is a tense moment for all of us and there is action on the border. As a party, we suspended our political activities for the moment in support of our armed forces and also for families who have sent their young ones to the border.
