NEW DELHI: US National Security Advisor John Bolton on Friday telephoned called Indian counterpart Ajit Doval and expressed his condolences for the Pulwama terror attack.
Bolton also offered the United Nation’s full support to India’s right to self-defence in confronting terrorism.
“I told Ajit Doval today that we support India’s right to self-defence. I have spoken to him twice, including this morning… and expressed US’ condolences over the terrorist attack,” he told PTI.
Forty personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed and many critically injured in the attack in Pulwama. The Pakistan-based terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed militant has claimed responsibility for the attack.
“I have spoken to him twice, including this morning… and expressed US’ condolences over the terrorist attack,” Bolton told PTI.
“We have been very clear on that score… and we are continuing to be in discussions we are going to have with the Pakistanis,” he said.
A statement issued by India’s External Affairs Ministry earlier said, “Ambassador 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.”
It added that the NSAs “resolved to hold Pakistan to account for its obligations under UN resolutions and to remove all obstacles to designating JeM leader Masood Azhar as global terrorist under the UN Security Council Resolution 1267 Committee process.”