NEW DELHI – The pressure mount on Indian PM Modi in wake of former PrimeMinister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif’s remark that terrorists from Pakistansneaked into India to attack Mumbai in 2008.

The Congress on Monday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi if his governmentwould take action to ensure that Pakistan is declared a “terrorist state”.

It also asked the Prime Minister if he would show the courage to ensurethat the trial of 26/11 is either held under the guidance of internationalagencies or they are handed over to India.

“This is something that then UPA Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and hisgovernment had categorically stated before the entire world community whichled to definite sanctions against Pakistan,” said Congress spokespersonRandeep Singh Surjewala.

“Modi, who goes uninvited to have ‘dawats’ at the house of same NawazSharif, needs to answer, that in light of this categorical admission byformer Pakistani Prime Minister… will this government take action toensure that Pakistan is declared a terrorist state among the worldcommunity, leading to consequent civil, military and economic sanctions onPakistan,” he added.

Mr Surjewala further said: “Our second question to Modi is, will you showthe courage of conviction and the 56″ chest to ensure that the trial of26/11 perpetrators, who are neither being adequately tried nor punished inPakistan, is either held under the guidance of international agencies orthey are handed over alternatively to India?”

Nawaz Sharif defended his comments on terror group Lashkar-e -Tayiba’s rolein the attacks that killed 166 people in Mumbai in 2008. In an interview toa Pakistani newspaper, Mr Sharif on Sunday had said, terror groups areactive in Pakistan and questioned the policy to allow the “non-stateactors” to cross the border and “kill” people in Mumbai. He had alsoquestioned why the 26/11 probe was not concluded.