Mumbai, February 15: Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee on Security announced that Pakistan would be stripped off from the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status for trade and directed the MEA to intensify its diplomatic efforts to corner Pakistan on the International level, representatives of various countries like – Germany, Hungary, Italy, European Union, Canada, Russia, Israel, Australia and Japan – were seen arriving at the MEA office in the national capital.

The Union Ministry of External Affairs has called all the representatives of the elite nations after the coward attack on CRPF convoy in Awantipora area of Pulwama took place by Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist on Thursday. Along with the representative of elite nations, representatives of neighbouring countries - Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Nepal – were also seen arriving at the national headquarters of the MEA in New Delhi.  Pulwama Terror Attack: India Strips Pakistan Of MFN Status, to Intensify Diplomatic Efforts to Corner Islamabad.

Initial reports reveal that the around 25 Heads of Mission based in New Delhi today from all P-5 countries, all South Asian countries and other important partners marked their presence. Indian Foreign Secretary highlighted the role played by Pakistan in using terrorism as an instrument of its state policy. Also, MEA will continue to take all steps to expose the complicity of Pakistan in Pulwama attack and demand immediate and verifiable action against JeM and its leader Masood Azhar.

Earlier, the MEA had called back Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ajay Bisaria, on Friday reportedly to discuss New Delhi's diplomatic strategy in the wake of a terror attack on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district. Upon his return to India, Ajay Bisaria is likely to meet External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhle. Pulwama Attack Fallout: Ajay Bisaria, Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Called Back. 

Also, briefing the details of the CCS meeting earlier in the day, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said, while addressing the media, “The Most Favoured Nation status which was granted to Pakistan, stands withdrawn.” Jaitley said India will intensify its diplomatic efforts to corner Pakistan on the international level.

"The Ministry of External Affairs will initiate all possible diplomatic steps which are to be taken to ensure the complete isolation from the international community of Pakistan of which incontrovertible is available of having a direct hand in this act," the minister said. "People who are responsible and have supported this act of terrorism will have to pay a heavy price for it," he added. Narendra Modi Observes Two-Minute Silence to Remember Martyrs, PM's Political Rallies Cancelled.

Around 40 CRPF personnel were martyred in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir when a Jaish suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 100 kg of explosives into their bus in Pulwama district on Thursday. More than 2,500 Central Reserve Police Force personnel, many of them returning from leave to rejoin duty in the Valley, were travelling in the convoy of 78 vehicles when they were ambushed on the Srinagar-Jammu highway at Latoomode in Awantipora in south Kashmir.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 15, 2019 07:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).