I expressed condolences to NSA Doval yesterday for the reprehensible terrorist attack on India. Pakistan must crack… https://t.co/6c9wyJhK2W — John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) 1550319120000

The U.S. condemns yesterday’s horrific terror attack on Indian security forces. My thoughts and prayers are with th… https://t.co/J2AUcRrO9o — Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) 1550254829000

WASHINGTON/ NEW DELHI: The Trump administration on Friday virtually greenlighted punitive Indian measures against Pakistan for the Pulwama terror attack, saying it “supported India’s right to self-defence against cross-border terrorism”.US national security adviser John Bolton spoke to Indian NSA Ajit Doval twice on phone following the attack to offer condolences and express support, using a phrase that reads like an open-ended term that allows New Delhi to fashion its answer to the Pakistani provocation.In a statement, Bolton has explicitly called on Pakistan to “crack down” on Jaish-e-Muhammed- the Pak-backed terror outfit that owned up the Pulwama attack- and all terrorists operating from its territory. Bolton said he expressed condolences to Doval for the “reprehensible terrorist attack on India” and added that all countries must uphold the UNSC responsibilities to deny safe haven and support for terrorists.A coordinated covert operation response, including drone strikes to take out UN-designated terrorists, has long been a desired objective in some quarters, but Washington has been reluctant to sign on to the idea, while signaling it will have no problem if India wants to take such measures.The US government’s support goes beyond endorsing India’s right to self-defence or retaliatory action, and extends to assistance at diplomatic and intelligence cooperation in the Pulwama terror case. The US has promised to work with India in removing obstacles in getting Jaish chief Maulana Masood Azhar sanctioned as a global terrorist by the UNSC. Azhar has escaped sanctions due to China’s persistent block in the council.The fairly unequivocal backing from the US at a time when India has been concerned about Pakistan’s role as a conduit for US in talks with Taliban is a boost for New Delhi’s campaign against Islamabad. It can further firm up India’s resolve for retaliatory action against Pakistan for the attack on CRPF troopers.Bolton not just supported, according to an Indian readout, India’s right to self-defence against cross-border terrorism but also promised to work with India in getting Azhar sanctioned by the UNSC. TOI had reported on Saturday that US will soon hold dialogue with India on terrorist designation with focus on Azhar.The Indian release on the Bolton-Doval conversation said, “Ambassador Bolton supported India’s right to self-defence against crossborder terrorism. He offered all assistance to India to bring the perpetrators and backers of the attack promptly to justice.” The statement added that the “two NSAs vowed to work together to ensure that Pakistan ceases to be a safe haven for JeM and terrorist groups that target India, the US and others in the region”.The US response to Pakistan’s terrorist attacks has moved a long way from counselling restraint to both parties, which was the norm in the 1990s, to outright citing and condemnation of Pakistan and its terrorist policies, evident in Islamabad’s reluctance to roll up UN-designated terrorists such as Lashkar-e-Taiba’s Hafiz Saeed and JeM’s Masood Azhar.By continuing to allow the terrorists a free run in Pakistan, Islamabad is effectively in violation of its UN obligations, and Washington indicated it would also back any Indian move on the bureaucratic front to hold Pakistan to account before the international community.“They (the two NSAs) resolved to hold Pakistan to account for its obligations under UN resolutions and to remove all obstacles to designating JeM leader Masood Azhar as a global terrorist under UN Security Council Resolution 1267 Committee process,” MEA statement said.Bolton, in fact, rewrote a milder State Department statement on the Pulwama attack . The NSA, a known hawk on security issues, held Pakistan responsible for the attack, overriding a state department call for “all countries” to uphold their responsibilities pursuant to the UN Security Council resolutions to deny safe haven and support for terrorists.The State Department subsequently echoed the White House’s tough stand, with secretary Micheal Pompeo, who had been travelling, tweeting: “We stand with #India as it confronts terrorism. Pakistan must not provide safe haven for terrorists to threaten international security.”