ISLAMABAD: The adviser to the prime minister on national security and foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz, expressed serious concern over the statement made by Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar that India will use terrorism to counter terrorism from other countries.

This statement, Aziz said, only confirms Islamabad’s apprehensions about India’s involvement in terrorism in Pakistan.

“It must be the first time that a minister of an elected government openly advocates use of terrorism in another country on the pretext of preventing terrorism from that country or its non-state actors,” said the national security adviser.

Pakistan sincerely pursues a policy of good neighbourly relations with India, maintained Aziz.

“Terrorism is our common enemy and it is vital for the two countries to work together to defeat this menace, from which Pakistan has suffered much more than almost any other country,” he asserted.

"The statement of Indian defence minister is open and blatant admission and declaration of sponsoring terrorism," Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said in an official statement issued late on Saturday.

Asif said Indian defence minister specifically mentioned that regulation will not be used to quell terrorist activities and terrorism will be promoted instead.

"This is the worst kind of declaration by a state functionary of cabinet level which confirms that India is sponsoring terrorism against its neighbours in the name of preventing terrorist activities," Asif said.

Earlier, Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, in a shocking and radical statement, has asserted that terrorists have to be neutralised only through terrorists.

“India will take proactive steps to prevent a 26/11 type attack,” Press Trust of India quoted him saying.

Commenting on the shocking utterances of the Indian Defence Minister, a defence analyst said the statement was appalling and beyond comprehension.

Speaking at an event in New Delhi, the minister used the Hindi phrase “kante se kanta nikalna” (removing a thorn with a thorn) and wondered why Indian soldiers should be used to neutralise terrorists. The proactive steps, he said, could include pressure tactics.

“We have to neutralise terrorists through terrorists only. Why can't we do it? We should do it. Why does my soldier have to do it?” he said and added that the issue could not be discussed beyond this.

“There are certain things that I obviously cannot discuss here. But if there is any country, planning something against my country, we will definitely take some pro-active steps,” he said.

The defence analyst lamented that the menace of terrorism could not be defeated by promoting state-sponsored terrorism.

India, he added, was carving out a disastrous strategy as it would never help in rooting out terrorism, which was a global issue threatening all states.

The international community should take notice of this irresponsible statement, which was reflecting a sick mindset, he stressed.