Modi’s remarks misleading: Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday clearly told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that for once and for all to stop the continuing “anti-Pakistan narrative, emanating from India, which vitiates the bilateral environment and impedes the prospects for peace and cooperation”.

Pakistan also blamed India for its “rigid approach and hegemonic ambitions”. “These remarks (fromModi) are misleading, one-sided. It must stop,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The statement from the ministry was in reaction to remarks by the Indian prime minister against Pakistan during an interview in a-three hour podcast with Lex Fridman. In recent times Modi had avoided commenting on Pakistan in public.

“These remarks conveniently omit the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, which remains unresolved for last seven decades despite India’s solemn assurances to the United Nations, Pakistan and the Kashmiri people,” pointed out the statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Modi in his interview when asked about relations with Pakistan said that Pakistan should abandon the path of state sponsored terrorism, and blamed it for being involved in proxy war with India, while exporting terror to India.

“All Indian attempts of peace failed with Pakistan. People of Pakistan deserve a future free from violence and fear and wish that Pakistan learns from its mistakes and chooses the correct path,” Modi said in the interview.

The Foreign Ministry responded by saying that India’s fictitious narrative of victimhood cannot hide its involvement in fomenting terrorism on Pakistan’s soil and the state-sanctioned oppression in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK).

“Instead of blaming others, India should reflect on its own record of orchestrating targeted assassinations, subversion and terrorism in foreign territories,” added the statement.

Earlier last week after the gruesome attack on the Jaffa Express in Balochistan, the ISPR director general had accused India of sponsoring militant groups in the south-west of the country.

Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif had remarked, “In this terrorist incident in Balochistan, and others before, the main sponsor is your eastern neighbour,” in a reference to India.

Sarfraz Bugti, chief minister of Balochistan, told reporters that Pakistan has “solid evidence” of India’s involvement in attacks.

Before this Pakistan had captured, on 3 March 2016, a serving a RAW agent, Indian Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav from inside Balochistan in Mashkel near the border region of Chaman.

“Pakistan has always advocated constructive engagement and result-oriented dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues, including the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir. However, peace and stability in South Asia have remained hostage to India’s rigid approach and hegemonic ambitions,” added the Foreign Office.

Meanwhile, US President Trump shared PM Modi’s podcast from his ‘Truth Social’ handle on X. Prime Minister’s Advisor on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has stated that India’s intelligence agency, RAW, is behind acts of terrorism and that it is unfortunate that Afghan soil is being used for terrorist activities.

Speaking to the media after offering condolences at the home of Martyred Soldier Muzammil, who was martyred in the Jaffar Express attack, he emphasised that the Afghan government must take action against terrorists.

He asserted that foreign elements are trying to destabilise Pakistan, and intelligence-based operations are being conducted to counter these threats. Dismissing the need for a grand operation in Balochistan, he clarified that no major operation is currently under way in the region. He reaffirmed that there would be no leniency towards terrorists, adding that RAW is orchestrating and funding terrorist groups.

According to him, all kidnapped individuals have been safely recovered, and both national institutions and the entire nation are determined to eliminate terrorism. He also accused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of echoing India’s propaganda on terrorism.