India Says Pakistan Lacks ‘Sustained Commitment’ to Combat Terrorism

MOSCOW, January 5 (Sputnik) — Despite a decision by the US government to send aid to Pakistan, India does not believe that Pakistan is doing enough to fight terrorist groups, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said Monday.

"How the Government of the United States of America decides to spend US Tax payers money is entirely its prerogative," Akbaruddin was quoted as saying by the Foreign Ministry on its website. "However, India does not believe that Pakistan is showing 'sustained commitment' or making 'significant effort' or 'ceasing support' or dismantling 'bases of operations' of the Laskhar e Tayyaba, Jaish-e-Muhammad, the Haqqani network and quite possibly the Al Qaeda."

The spokesperson went on to say that these terrorist groups also posed a threat to members of the international community working in Afghanistan, including Indian diplomatic staff in the country's embassy in Kabul and four consulates.

In late December 2014, US Congress agreed to grant an aid package worth $532 million to Pakistan to boost the country's economic growth, community building, education, health and efforts to fight terrorism.

Tensions in Pakistani-Indian relations have mounted recently due to ceasefire violations detected on the India-Pakistan border last week. Both countries lay claim to the region of Kashmir, with central and southern parts of the disputed territory controlled by India, while Pakistan controls areas in Kashmir's northwest.

In 2003, India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire after a series of conflicts and acts of violence along the border, although both countries have repeatedly accused each other of violating the truce.