Never heard of Indian state-sponsored terrorism: Ex CIA director David Petraeus

Former CIA director David Petraeus said on Thursday he has never heard the term Indian state-sponsored terrorism in his career, thereby rebutting Pakistan’s claim that it has evidence of India’s involvement in sponsoring terrorism.

Petraeus was speaking at Raisina Dialogue, an annual geo-political conference held in India’s capital New Delhi. Petraeus was the head of International Security Assistance Force in 2010-2011 and director of the Central Intelligence Agency from September 6, 2011 until his resignation in November 2012.

"I might offer that...as director of the CIA, and commander of ISAF in Afghanistan, I never once heard the term 'Indian state-sponsored terrorism'", said Petraeus, according to reports.

The former CIA chief's comment refuted Pakistan’s claim that India was involved in terrorist activities in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

In June 2017, Nafees Zakria, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Office, said India makes use of Afghan refugees to carry out terrorist acts in Pakistan.

“We have already taken up this issue at various forums, of Indian involvement in subversive and terrorist activities in Pakistan. The terrorist always use vulnerable elements in the society to carry out terrorist acts, which India is doing,” he said.

Early last year, Pakistan even handed over to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres a dossier that reportedly contained proof of India’s interference and terrorism in Pakistan.

“The dossier contains additional information and proof of Indian/RAW interference in Pakistan and involvement in terrorism particularly in Balochistan, FATA and Karachi. This is a follow up to the three dossiers, which were shared with the United Nations in October 2015,” the Foreign Office said in a statement at the time.

In the covering letter sent with the dossier, Pakistan Prime Minister’s adviser on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, claimed that the arrest of Indian agent Kulbhushan Jadhav from Balochistan and his confession admitting to his involvement in activities aimed at destabilising Pakistan was proof of India’s involvement in terrorist activities.