Pakistan rejects Modi’s ‘belligerent rhetoric’: FO

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Wednesday denounced Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “irresponsible and war-mongering remarks” against Pakistan.

The Foreign office released an statement saying that the “remarks are another reflection of India’s incurable obsession with Pakistan and the BJP Government and leadership’s desperate attempts to divert attention from growing domestic and international criticism of their discriminatory, anti-Kashmir and anti-minority policies.”

It said that Indian Prime Minister’s threats and provocative statements further illustrate the extremist mindset that pervades the BJP leadership and has evidently permeated the state institutions in India.

India was reminded that “Pakistan’s immediate and effective response to India’s Balakot misadventure, including the downing of Indian fighter aircraft and capture of Indian pilot last year, should suffice to underscore the will, capacity and preparedness of our armed forces.”

“No one should underestimate the resolve of the people and the armed forces of Pakistan to effectively thwart any aggressive action,” it added.

The Foreign Office urged the international community to take cognizance of the Indian leadership’s continuing belligerent rhetoric and aggressive measures, which pose a threat to regional peace and security.

It hoped that steps would be taken to facilitate peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute for durable peace and stability in South Asia.

The Foreign Office was referring to claims made by Modi during a speech to military personnel on Tuesday in Delhi, where he said Indian forces were now capable of making Pakistan “bite the dust” in less than 10 days.

“Our armed forces will not take more than seven to 10 days to make Pakistan bite the dust,” Modi had made the preposterous claim, adding that India’s new prowess was a consequence of ‘youthful thinking’ which was evident from India’s alleged strikes in Azad Jammu and Kashmir last year.