Pakistan Accuses India of “Malicious Campaign” through “Fictitious Narrative of Victimhood”
NEW DELHI, June 11: Pakistan on Wednesday reacted to external affairs minister S Jaishankar’s recent remarks against the country and claimed that India has been engaged in a “malicious campaign” to mislead the international community through a “fictitious narrative of victimhood,” Pakistan’s foreign ministry said.
Pakistan accused India of “concocting misleading narratives” to justify its recent “aggressive actions.” “Pakistan believes in peaceful coexistence, dialogue and diplomacy. However, it stands resolute in its intent and ability to safeguard its sovereignty against any aggression, as exemplified by its robust response to India’s reckless strikes last month,” the statement said.
On Mr Jaishankar’s remarks, it said the diplomats should aim to promote peace and harmony, rather than “producing bellicose punchlines.” “Pakistan categorically rejects the irresponsible remarks made by the External Affairs Minister of India during different media engagements in Brussels,”
“The discourse of top diplomats should aim to promote peace and harmony, rather than producing bellicose punchlines. The tone and tenor of a Foreign Minister should be commensurate with his dignified status,” it added.
S Jaishankar spoke about the recent global coverage of the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir, in which 26 lives were lost. Mr
Jaishankar pushed back against the narrative that equates India’s response with regional tension. “Let me remind you of something – there was a man named Osama bin Laden. Why did he, of all people, feel safe living for years in a Pakistani military town, right next to their equivalent of West Point?” he said.
“I want the world to understand – this isn’t merely an India-Pakistan issue. It’s about terrorism. And that very same terrorism will eventually come back to haunt you.” Earlier on Monday, S Jaishankar had said India would not hesitate to strike back no matter how deep in Pakistan terror targets are. “If they are deep in Pakistan, we will go deep into Pakistan,” Jaishankar said in the POLITICO interview.
“It [Pakistan] is a country very steeped in its use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy. That is the whole issue,” Jaishankar was quoted as saying. When asked whether the conditions that triggered last month’s hostilities still existed, he said, “If you call the commitment to terrorism a source of tension, absolutely, it is,” he added.
Operation Sindoor was India’s direct military response to the April 22 terror strike at Pahalgam in Kashmir that killed 26 civilians in what was the worst attack on civilians since the 26/11 Mumbai strikes.
(Manas Dasgupta)
