Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 20

Post-Uri, as India begins the process of “isolating Pakistan globally” there is some news to cheer. Most of the world stood with India in solidarity in condemning the attack and a few nations went a step further in asking that terrorist outfits based in Pakistan needed to be dealt with by the international community.In New York City, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met US Secretary of State John Kerry on the sidelines of the 71 session of the United Nations General Assembly and raised the Kashmir issue with him. Kerry, during the meeting, urged Sharif not to let terrorists use Pakistan territory as safe havens, while expressing his concern at the terror strike at the Uri Army base and at the situation in Kashmir. Kerry also stressed the need for restraint in nuclear weapons programmes.Earlier in the day, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani called up PM Modi and condemned the “cross-border” attack in Uri. Ghani also expressed Afghanistan’s solidarity and support with India for all actions to eliminate the threat of terrorism, according to a statement released by the PMO.Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena also had a short telephonic conversation with Modi. He strongly condemned the cross-border terrorist attack. The two leaders also spoke of the need for “sustained cooperation among countries of the region to end the scourge of terrorism”.After the strong message of support from Russia and France earlier, Japan and Germany also stepped forward today in lending their support to India. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said, “As is often the case, terrorists’ aim is to escalate the situation; they want to trigger a spiral of violence. We must not give in to this logic, including in conflicts between India and Pakistan.”Russia, meanwhile, has come out with one of the strongest statements of support. Condemning the attack, the Russian foreign ministry said, “Regarding the Pathankot air base attack in January 2016, we are very concerned about the terrorist attacks near the Line of Control. We are also concerned about the fact that, according to New Delhi, the army base near Uri was attacked from Pakistani territory.”

World backs India

• Afghan President Ashraf Ghani expressed solidarity with India as regards all actions to eliminate the threat of terrorism
• Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena said there was a need for sustained cooperation among countries of the region to end the scourge of terrorism
• Expressing solidarity with India, Japan said it condemned terrorism in all forms, regardless of its purpose
• France called for decisive action against terror groups targeting India, especially the LeT, the Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen