New Delhi

In the wake of terror attack at Pathankot Air Force base, Union Minister V K Singh today said Pakistan needs to check terrorist and other organisations acting against India, which is trying to improve bilateral ties.

The former Army chief said that the civilian government in Pakistan should be strengthened to help maintain friendly ties with the neighbouring country and take forward the hopes kindled among the common people of Pakistan after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit there.

“In Pakistan, there are different agencies – there is an elected government, the Army and ISI, whose agenda probably is set by the Army or has its own agenda, and there are terrorist organisations. All have their different paths and work on them differently. The civilian government there has to be strengthened.

“The way after Modiji’s visit, hopes have been generated among the common people of Pakistan that there should be friendship and good ties between the two countries. This is a good thing and needs to be taken forward. But at the same time, the other things that I mentioned, there needs to be a curb on such things,” the Minister of State for External Affairs said.

He also lauded the way the security agencies foiled the terror attack and fought against terrorists in Pathankot.

Another Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the government follows zero tolerance policy on terrorism and was committed to national security and would befittingly respond to any terrorist attack.

“India has given a clear message to all terrorists and their bosses that India is not at all tolerant towards terror.

We do not compromise on issues which involve our national security,” he said.

Naqvi said, “We want that peace should prevail in the world, but if terrorist outfits want to thwart that peace process then they would be given a befitting reply by our security forces.” PTI