AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi came out with a scathing attack against Pakistan on Saturday, criticizing its questionable track record in fostering terrorism and accusing Islamabad of employing mechanisms that provide protection to terrorists and undermine South Asia.
Addressing the Indian community in Algeria on an all-party parliamentarian delegation visit, Owaisi quoted a glaring example of Pakistan's role in terrorism, saying that a terrorist had become a father while supposedly jailed in Pakistan.
The Hyderabad MP targeted Pakistan's VIP treatment of terrorist Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi in prison.
"There was this one terrorist named Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi – no other nation in the world would let a terrorist who's being charged with terror (come out of prison).
But he became a dad to a son while he was in prison. The trial went on nonetheless as soon as Pakistan was placed on the Grey List (of FATF)," Owaisi explained, highlighting how external pressure temporarily pushed Pakistan into making a move.
He was hopeful that if Pakistan is placed back on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List — the international organization tracking terror funding — terror operations in India would diminish.
Owaisi warned that the danger goes beyond South Asia alone, asserting, "It's not just a matter of South Asia. We are the 4th biggest economy. What do you do? Do you want all this bloodshed to travel to other regions of South Asia," he asked.
It is the interest of global peace to get Pakistan, the prime patron of terror, under control. It needs to be re-added to the FATF Grey List," he further stated.
On the underlying causes of terrorism, Owaisi said, "Terrorism thrives on two things: ideology and funds. Ideology, you know very well, you have witnessed the Black Decade, even in South Algeria, you still have some issues. On that issue, we are on the same page."
Once you bring Pakistan in the Grey List, we will witness a reduction in terrorism in India. We'll witness killings reducing. We have the 2018 experience when Algeria and other nations supported India," he added.
Connecting Pakistan's ideology with global terror groups, Owaisi said, "Pakistan is the epicentre of Takfirism and there is no ideological difference between the terrorist organizations in Pakistan and Daesh and Al-Qaeda."
"They feel that they have a religious justification, which is absolutely wrong. Islam does not sanction the murder of any human being, and unhappily, that is their creed," he further added.
Touching on the growing cooperation between India and Algeria, Owaisi said, “We (India and Algeria) signed a defence MoU in November (2024), and I’m sure that this will increase understanding and strengthen our relationship. Hopefully, our Prime Minister will come to Algeria very soon. Hopefully, the President of Algeria will come to India. This will be a very good step in the right direction.”
These comments follow India's ongoing diplomatic initiatives to bring the international community together against terrorism and present its view after the heinous terror attack in Pahalgam and India's military action through Operation Sindoor.
The delegation held a minute of silence in honor of the victims of the Pakistan-backed terror attack that left 26 dead on April 22 in Jammu and Kashmir.
On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor, a targeted attack on terror infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Over 100 terrorists from groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen were killed.
Pakistan retaliated with cross-border firing and drone attacks, triggering further Indian attacks that hit 11 Pakistani air bases. On May 10, the two countries agreed to a temporary ceasefire.
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