Majority of terrorists killed in Jammu and Kashmir came from Pakistan: European Union MPs in Srinagar

In an embarrassment for Pakistan, the European Union (EU) delegation on Wednesday stated that the majority of terrorists killed in Jammu and Kashmir came from Pakistan.

Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, four delegates - Henri Malosse and Thierry Mariani from France, Ryszard Czarnecki from Poland and Bill Newton Dunn from the United Kingdom, called terrorism a global problem, adding that the EU is concerned about this matter. A team of 23 European Union parliamentarians visited the newly formed Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

India's stand of Jammu and Kashmir being an internal matter of the country received an unequivocal endorsement from the delegation. The parliamentarians extended their support to India in its fight against terrorism while declaring that abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir was an internal decision of the country.

Terrorism is not an internal issue. An EU MP further said, "Terrorism is not only India's problem but is an international problem. We support India in fighting terrorism. Terrorism can destroy your country. Terrorism is also a problem of France and Europe. We don't want Kashmir to become another Afghanistan."

They also asserted that people of the region want peace and development. They added that there is an atmosphere of development in J&K while stating that people have many expectations from the government.

"We have no interest in Indian politics. Our aim was to meet the local people. It was a good experience in Kashmir. Work is being done in the right direction here. People of Kashmir want peace and development. They want school and hospitals. We need the support of India to find the best solution," an EU MP said.

The MPs also asserted that Article 370 is an internal matter of India and stressed that India is a peace-loving nation. Speaking on the ties between India and Pakistan, it said, "we want talks between them". The members also took a dig at Pakistan saying that the country causes trouble to the Christian community residing in the country.

The members of the delegation also condemned the killing of innocents by terrorists in the past few days. 

On Tuesday, five labourers from West Bengal's Murshidabad were killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam while the European Union delegation was in Srinagar to see the ground situation. It was the fourth attack by terrorists in a week in Kashmir. Earlier, two non-Kashmiri truck drivers were killed by terrorists in Shopian. Before that, two terrorists shot dead a truck driver from Rajasthan and attacked an orchard owner, also in Shopian.

The members said that they want to have development in the region, adding that they don't intend to interfere in politics but want facts. Lauding the press, they said, "First of all its a good sign that India has a free press if we look at the neighbourhood."

The members also claimed that the western media is not good at facts.