India on Thursday slammed Pakistan for alleging New Delhi’s hand in the blast that took place recently near the house of UN-designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed. At the weekly press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi reacted to the Pakistan National Security Adviser’s remarks that India was behind the bomb blast in Lahore.

The MEA spokesperson said there was nothing new in baseless propaganda carried out by Islamabad against New Delhi. Bagchi said the world knows Pakistan’s credentials as far as tackling terrorism is concerned.

“It is not new for Pakistan to engage in baseless propaganda against India. Pakistan would do well to expend the same effort in setting its house in order and taking credible action against terrorism,” the spokesperson told the press briefing.

“The international community are well aware of Pakistan’s credentials when it comes to terrorism. This is acknowledged by none other than its own leadership which continues to glorifiy terrorists like Osama bin Laden as martyrs,” he added.

It may be noted that Saeed is the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and he heads the Jamaat-ud-Dawah organisation, which is the front of terror group Lashkar-e-Toiba.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Arif Alvi have also trained their guns on India over the powerful blast.

Meanwhile, the MEA Spokesperson reiterated the statement given out by the Indian Embassy in Afghanistan that the country’s missions in the central Asian state continue to remain functional. There had been reports to the contrary following the US troops’ withdrawal from the country earlier this week.

“Our embassies in Kabul and Kandahar are functional. We are carefully monitoring the security situation in Afghanistan, and also looking after the security of Indian nationals in Afghanistan,” the spokesperson said.

Here are some other highlights from the MEA presser:

– We hope that with the vast improving Covid-19 situation, countries would ease restrictions. We’ve taken up the issue with foreign ambassadors such as resumption of flights. We’re actively trying to help Indians who need to travel back to countries across the world – MEA on visa issue

– We conveyed that OICC should be watchful and the platform should not be used for anti-India propaganda by vested interests – MEA spokesperson on OICC Secretary-General’s meeting with Indian ambassador

– No immediate update on legal proceedings underway, we will continue to follow the developments – MEA spokesperson on fugitives Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi