New Delhi: Adopting a tough stance, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on February 8 demanded that Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi be closed immediately in the wake of the mission being reportedly found to have been funding separatist activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

Asked whether in the wake of this development India should ask Pakistan to close down its mission, BJP Parliamentary party spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra said, "There is no need of Pakistan mission being here as it has also become a centre of ISI (Inter Services Intelligence) activities in India."

He said even now Pakistan was encouraging terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and the economic assistance being given by United States was being used by the neighbouring country to finance terrorist activities in India.

Welcoming the government's move to expel Pakistan's Charge d'Affaires Jalil Abbas Gilani and four staff members of the High Commission, two days after they were accused of funding separatist activities in Jammu and Kashmir, he said, "The manner in which the Pakistan High Commission was functioning, the government has done the right thing."

Malhotra said instead of targetting Iraq, the US should ensure that Pakistan stops cross-border terrorism and called upon America to declare Pakistan a terrorist state.

"The US and other countries, instead of targetting Iraq, should ensure that Pakistan stops terrorist activities and declare it a terrorist state if they want to fight terrorism," he said.

PTI