Pak should extend active support in tackling terrorism as it is facing same crisis: Rajnath Singh

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday asked Pakistan to help in tackling terrorism, saying that the country itself is facing the same crisis.

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said that the Modi government has appealed to Pakistan to help in tackling terrorism.

He further said, “Our Government is taking all possible measures to tackle terrorism."

Hitting out at Pakistan, while speaking to news agency ANI, Rajnath Singh said, “Not just India but entire world knows who is responsible for terrorism.We have appealed to Pak to help in tackling terrorism.”

While recalling the recent terror attacks on Pak soil, Rajnath said they should become serious and extend all help in tackling terrorism as they are also a victim of the menance. "It (Pakistan) should extend full cooperation in checking terrorism because the country is facing a similar problem today," Singh told reporters here. 

On May 13, over forty people were killed in Pakistan's Karachi city when the terrorists entered a bus and opened fire. There were around 60 passengers, including children, on the bus, mostly from the Ismaili community. A pamphlet found at the spot has claimed the role of the Islamic State (IS) militants in the killings and has threatened more attacks. 

On Pakistan's strong reaction to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's recent remarks about neutralising terrorists through terrorists, Singh said, "Not only India, but the entire world knows who is promoting terrorism." 

Reacting to Parrikar's comments, adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz had said it confirmed Islamabad's apprehensions that India was involved in terrorism in that country. 

"It must be the first time that a minister of an elected government openly advocates use of terrorism in another country on the pretext of preventing terrorism from that country or its non-state actors," Aziz had said in a statement released by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Earlier, addressing a SBI officers' convention Singh expressed concern over Fake Indian Currency Note (FICN) racket and said it was used to promote terrorism. 

"FICN is a big problem as fake currency is used to promote terrorism," he said and asked banks to be alert to that. 

The Home Minister said India was taking all steps to fight terrorism. 

Singh described banks as the "spine" of the country's economy and said,"I want to see it as the nation's lifeline." 

He described the nationalisation of banks as the "biggest" decision taken post-independence to improve the health of the economy. 

"But even after nationalisation the connect with the people was not there. I want to congratulate the banking sector that they associated 15 crore families under Jan Dhan scheme. It's not a small achivement," he said. 

The Home Minister also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for launching social security schemes. 

"Even those who criticise us will realise this sooner or later. Even the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has appreciated the scheme," he said. 

He rubbished Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's accusation against the Centre for scrapping the food park project in his constituency Amethi.

Singh, earlier, had asked Pakistan to "seriously rethink" its strategy of using terrorism as an instrument of proxy war, adding that this will "significantly" improve the security situation in South Asia besides being in its own national interest.

(With Agency inputs)

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