TV/FM publicity ban not enough, Pakistan needs to go far beyond: MEA

NEW DELHI: India today said an effective action by Pakistani government against LeT and other terror outfits will have to go far beyond "merely" proscribing their publicity through electronic media, asserting a complete and enforceable ban on them by Pakistan has been long overdue.

The comments by External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup came in reaction to Pakistan's decision to ban publicity of LeT, JuD and FIF through electronic media.

"We have seen the media reports that Pakistan's electronic media regulator has imposed a ban on publicity of LeT, JuD and FIF through electronic media.

"The relevant notification and its implications need to be studied. At first sight, it does appear that it is a ban merely on publicity through electronic media," he said.

Acknowledging for the first time that the 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed-led JuD is a wing of LeT, Pakistan government has asked broadcasters to refrain from covering such terror groups.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has issued a notification banning all TV channels and FM radio from coverage of 72 banned groups including LeT, JuD and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) under UN restriction.

"The Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation are the other wings of Lashkar-e-Taiba," the notification said.

This is for the first time Pakistan has admitted that JuD and FIF are "other wings of LeT".

However, India asserted that "a complete and enforceable ban by Pakistan authorities on all activities of all UN-proscribed affiliates of LeT, and other terrorist organisations, active in Pakistan has been long overdue.

"Effective action by Pakistan in this regard will have to go far beyond proscribing their publicity through electronic media."

The Spokesperson further added that "our stand on the need for Pakistan to act on its oft-repeated assurances to end all terrorism emanating from territory under its control, including the terrorism directed against us, is well known."