Imran fears conflict risk with India in election mode: FT

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said he feared another security incident with India, after the two nuclear-armed countries engaged in a dangerous escalation that fueled “war hysteria” in New Delhi ahead of elections next month.

In an interview with The Financial Times on Tuesday, Khan said tensions were still high even after the crisis over a militant attack in the disputed region of Kashmir had eased with the release of an Indian pilot captured by Pakistani forces.

“I’m still apprehensive before the elections, I feel that something could happen,”Khan told the newspaper. “When Pulwama happened, I felt that Mr Modi’s government used that to build this war hysteria,” Khan said.

“The Indian public should realize that this is all for winning the elections, it’s nothing to do with the real issues of the subcontinent.” He repeated a denial that Pakistan was involved in the Pulwama attack and said a crackdown had been launched against militant groups.