India will completely isolate Pakistan, says Arun Jaitley

New Delhi: A day after 44 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed by the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in a suicide attack in Kashmir's Pulwama, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Friday.

Modi was briefed by the director-general of the CRPF on the attack. National security advisor Ajit Doval, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, home minister Rajnath Singh, finance minister Arun Jaitley and defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman were also present.

Speaking to the media outside the Prime Minister’s residence, Jaitley said the CCS had made an assessment and “discussed the incident that took place in Pulwama in which a large number of CRPF personnel sacrificed their lives”.

“A detailed assessment of the incident was also made and there are several details which will not be disclosed at this point,” he added.

“The MEA will initiate all possible diplomatic steps which have to be taken to ensure isolation of Pakistan for having a direct hand in the incident. The ministry of commerce will take necessary steps to withdraw the most favoured nation status to Pakistan,” Jaitley said.

India had in 1986 tabled a draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism in the United Nations, but it had not been implemented because the definition of terrorism was not clearly listed.

“India will consult with all nations to implement it and engage with the international community to ensure measures against terrorism are now adopted at the earliest,” Jaitley added.

He also added the security forces “will take all possible steps to ensure that full security is maintained and to ensure that those who have committed this act and those who supported it are made to pay.”

Home minister Rajnath Singh is leaving for Srinagar on Friday. He will return on Saturday and call an all-party meeting on the incident.