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Pulwama terror attack aftermath; India withdraws MFN status to Pak

P L Uniyal. Dated: 2/16/2019 11:34:50 AM

NEW DELHI, Feb 15: India on Friday decided to mount a major diplomatic pressure to isolate Pakistan on the world stage and announced withdrawal of Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status for its neighbour in the backdrop of Pulwama militant attack that left over 45 CRPF personnel killed.
“Ministry of External Affairs will initiate all possible diplomatic steps which are to be taken to ensure the complete isolation from the international community of Pakistan of which incontrovertible is available of having a direct hand in this act,” Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told media in New Delhi after Cabinet Committee on Security chaired by Modi met.
Jaitley said, “The ‘Most Favoured Nation’ status which was granted to Pakistan, stands withdrawn.”
A day after the attack on the CRPF convoy that led to killing of 42 soldiers and leaving many injured, the Cabinet Committee on Security met on Friday morning wherein the members were briefed about the incident and they discussed the current situation.
Political parties across the spectrum condemned the incident while the United Nations and major powers of the world joined in speaking against the terror attack. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who briefed about the CCS deliberations said besides steps against Pakistan, the government would convene an all-party meeting on Saturday after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh returned from Jammu and Kashmir.
“Most Favoured Nation status granted to Pakistan by India in 1996 has been withdrawn. Strong measure on trade front while several other measures awaited. Interesting to note that Pakistan has never reciprocated. In fact Imran Khan government flatly refused to give MFN status to India,” BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav later tweeted.