Tel Aviv– Calling out Pakistan for its decades-long support of cross-border terrorism, India’s Ambassador to Israel, J.P. Singh, has urged Islamabad to hand over the leaders of Pakistan-based Islamist terror organizations—Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)—to India.
In an interview with Israeli broadcaster i24NEWS, Ambassador Singh underscored the long list of terror attacks carried out by these groups on Indian soil, including the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the 2016 attacks on the Uri base camp and Pathankot air base, the 2019 Pulwama bombing, and the recent April 22 massacre in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
“The root cause is these two organizations—Jaish-e-Mohammed and its leader Masood Azhar, and Lashkar-e-Taiba and its leader Hafiz Saeed,” Singh said. “When the preamble [to diplomacy] includes goodwill and friendship, then it’s a simple thing: Pakistan must hand over these terrorists to India.”
He went on to draw a sharp comparison with recent U.S. action, asking, “When the U.S. can extradite Tahawwur Rana, one of the accused in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, why can’t Pakistan hand over Hafiz Saeed and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi—both UN-designated and among India’s most wanted terrorists?”
Ambassador Singh also addressed Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the Pahalgam attack, stating that while the operation has been paused, it is not over. He emphasized that India’s fight against terrorism will persist.
“We’ve suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), but we’re also continuing with another IWT—India’s War on Terrorism,” Singh remarked.
Responding to a question about the IWT suspension, Singh noted that the 1960 treaty was signed in a spirit of peace and cooperation, but that goodwill has been one-sided.
“For years, we allowed water to flow to Pakistan, while they allowed terror to flow into India. People were frustrated—it couldn’t go on like this,” he explained. “After the Pahalgam attack, Prime Minister Modi made it clear: blood and water cannot flow together. That’s why we put the IWT on hold.”
On the impact of Operation Sindoor, Singh confirmed that Indian forces had destroyed several terrorist launch pads and eliminated more than 100 militants. He added that Pakistan only sought de-escalation after India’s forceful response.
“Only after our retaliation did Pakistan panic and reach out. That’s when both sides agreed to a ceasefire on May 10,” he said.
Ambassador Singh stressed that India has now established a “new normal” in its counterterrorism strategy.
“Our approach going forward is offensive. Wherever terrorists are—whether within or across the border—we will find them, eliminate them, and destroy their infrastructure. For now, the ceasefire is holding,” he concluded. (Source: IANS)
