Looking to pile on the pressure on Pakistan to act against cross-border terrorism, NSA Ajit Doval proposed at the SCO an action plan against Pak-based terror groups LeT and JeM, while calling for full implementation of UN resolutions and targeted sanctions against designated terrorists.

The external affairs ministry on Thursday also called on Pakistan to take credible, verifiable and irreversible action against terrorism as it responded to Pakistan foreign minister S M Qureshi's remark that India's presence in Afghanistan was "larger than it ought to be". The pointed reference at the SCO where his Pakistan counterpart was also present was intended to signal India's emphasis on anti-terror actions and the need for demonstrable measures.

As reported by on Thursday, the SCO NSA meeting in Dushanbe condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, called for shunning double standards in dealing with terrorists and reached an agreement for exchange of information on terrorists. The government, however, believes calling for action against specific terror groups is important for tightening the screws on Pakistan.

"NSA proposed action plan against LeT and JeM as part of SCO framework," said a source. With the global terror watchdog FATF is currently reviewing Pakistan's compliance with an action plan to check terror-financing, Doval emphasised "adoption of international standards" to counter terror-financing, including in the form of an MoU between SCO and FATF.

The NSA also emphasised on the need for perpetrators of terrorism, including cross-border terror attacks to be expeditiously brought to justice.

As the meeting underlined the significance of UN's role in Afghanistan peace efforts, Doval said there was a need to preserve gains made in last two decades in Afghanistan and to give top priority to welfare of its people. He said India fully supported SCO Contact Group on Afghanistan and called for it to be more active.

Following Qureshi's comments on Afghanistan, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, it was for the Afghan people to decide their partners, and the size of that partnership. "India has brought electricity, dams, schools, health clinics, roads, community projects to Afghanistan. The world knows what Pakistan has brought to Afghanistan," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)