Pulwama attack: India reacts to Imran Khan's statement

India on Tuesday rejected as "false allegation" Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's insinuation that India's response to the Pulwama terror attack would be determined by the coming Lok Sabha elections, and demanded "credible and visible action" against the perpetrators of the attack.

The external affairs ministry, in a statement, termed as "lame excuse" Khan's demand for "actionable intelligence" concerning the Pulwama terror attack, and said Pakistan should take "credible and visible action" against the perpetrators of the terrorist attack and other terrorists and terror groups. (Watch Imran Khan's statement here)

Responding to Khan's remarks on Tuesday that Pakistan will certainly retaliate if India declares war after the suicide bombing in Kashmir and his seeking "actionable intelligence" to take action against those involved, spokesperson Ravish Kumar said disclaiming any link between "terrorist attack and Pakistan is an oft-repeated excuse by Pakistan".

The government said it is regrettable that the Pakistan Prime Minister has insinuated that India's response to the terrorist attack is determined by the forthcoming general elections.

"India rejects this false allegation. India's democracy is a model for the world, which Pakistan would never understand. Pakistan should stop misleading the international community and take credible and visible action against the perpetrators of Pulwama terrorist attack and other terrorists and terror groups operating from areas under their control," the statement said.

"We are not surprised that the Prime Minister of Pakistan refuses to acknowledge the attack on our security forces in Pulwama as an act of terrorism. Prime Minister of Pakistan has neither chosen to condemn this heinous act nor condoled with the bereaved families," the statement said.

The statement said the Pakistan Prime Minister has ignored claims made by the Jaish-e-Mohammad, as well as by the terrorist, who perpetrated this heinous crime.

"If you (Indian government) think you will attack us and we will not think of retaliating, we will retaliate. We will have no other option other than retaliating. We all know starting a war is easy ... Where it will lead us, only God knows," the Pakistan PM earlier said in a nationwide broadcast.

"What would Pakistan benefit from it? Why would Pakistan do such a thing when it has been moving towards peace. It is in our interest that nobody from our soil spreads violence. I want to tell the Indian government that we will take action if evidence is found against anyone from Pakistan," he said.