New Delhi: More than 30 terror outfits are still active in Pakistan, said Defence Minister A K Antony on Friday while stressing that there was no change in Islamabad's attitude after the Mumbai terror attack.
“Statements are not important, actions are important. That way, I do not think there is any noticeable change in the act of Pakistan. They (Pakistan) should prove that by action,” Antony told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Delhi.
"More than 30 terror outfits are still active in Pakistan. So how can I say that there is a real change in Pakistan's attitude? ... There is no time limit (for Pakistan to act) but it must act," he said.
Pakistan has come under heavy pressure from USA after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) furnished proof of the involvement of terror outfits functioning from its soil in the Mumbai terror attacks November 26 last year that left more than 170 dead.
Pakistan had Tuesday urged India to de-activate its forward air bases and move troops back to their peacetime locations.
“We have not escalated the issue. There is no troop movement from our side. Whatever is taking place is normal. Nobody after 26/11 will tell us that we should not be prepared for any eventuality. They (armed forces) are doing their duty and are not making any provocations,” Antony said, responding to Pakistan's accusations of troop build-up on the Indian side.
"We must be prepared to meet any eventuality. It is our duty. Armed forces are doing their duty. They are not escalating anything. They are not doing any power projection. They are doing their duty. They have to be fully prepared to meet any challenge from any quarter, any threat from any quarter," Antony said.
Taking note of the gun battle in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday in which two militants were killed by the army troops, Antony said: “My advice is we have to be ever ready and our armed forces are doing their duty. They are in state of preparedness”.
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