Pakistan

Balakot incident ‘dangerous military adventurism to win polls’

Prime Minister lashes out at Modi govt for attempts to destabilise region

NEWS DESK January 18, 2021

Prime Minister Imran Khan. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said leaked conversation of an Indian anchor on Balakot incident revealed that Modi’s government used the episode for electoral gains in 2019 — a point which the premier had raised in his United Nations General Assembly speech the same year.

“I spoke at the UNGA on how India’s fascist Modi government used the Balakot crisis for domestic electoral gains,” the prime minister said, taking to Twitter in a series of messages.

WhatsApp conversation between the Republic TV founder Arnab Goswami and former CEO of the Broadcast Audience Research Council Partho Dasgupta was made public on Saturday, revealing the anchorperson was apparently aware of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plan to conduct airstrikes near Balakot — 48 hours prior to the intrusion into Pakistan’s airspace, that ended in an international embracement for his country.

Lashing out at the nefarious designs of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in India which aimed to distort image of Pakistan globally, the premier said the communication of the Indian journalist known for his warmongering revealed “unholy nexus between the Modi government and Indian media”.

I want to reiterate that my govt will continue to expose India's belligerent designs towards Pakistan & Modi govt's fascism. Int community must stop India from its reckless, militarist agenda before the Modi govt's brinkmanship pushes our region into a conflict it cannot control.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 18, 2021

The prime minister maintained that the Indian government tactics to win the polls were in complete disregard for its consequences in the region. The failed plan of the neighbouring government led to a “dangerous military adventurism to win election in utter disregard for the consequences of destabilising the entire region,” added the prime minister in his message.

Lauding the government’s response over the incident back in 2019, the premier said, “Pakistan averted a larger crisis by a responsible, measured response to Balakot.” However, censuring the BJP’s government, he added: “Modi govt continues to turn India into a rogue state”.

In 2019, I spoke at UNGA on how India’s fascist Modi govt used the Balakot crisis for domestic electoral gains. Latest revelations from communication of an Indian journalist, known for his warmongering, reveal the unholy nexus between the Modi govt & Indian media
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 18, 2021

In his message, he also referred to the neighbouring country’s human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The premier also mentioned an investigation led by Brussels-based EU DisinfoLab titled The Indian Chronicles last year which exposed an Indian disinformation network operating since 2005 that aims to reinforce pro-Indian and anti-Pakistan (and anti-Chinese) feelings in India.

The network is working internationally to consolidate the power and improve the image of India and damage reputation of rival countries so that ultimately India may benefit from more support from international institutions such as the European Union and the United Nations.

that led to a dangerous military adventurism to win an election in utter disregard for the consequences of destabilising the entire region. Pakistan averted a larger crisis by a responsible, measured response to Balakot. Yet, Modi govt continues to turn India into a rogue state.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 18, 2021

The premier added: “Indian sponsorship of terrorism in Pakistan, its abuses in IIOJK and a 15-year Indian global disinformation campaign against us all stand exposed.”

Amid the continued false operations and its exposure, the prime minister cautioned of a conflict in the nuclear armed region. He said Indian media had revealed the dirty nexus “pushing our nuclearised region to the brink of a conflict it cannot afford”.

In his message, the premier stressed his government would continue exposing India’s belligerent designs towards Pakistan and Modi government’s fascism.

Besides, he urged the international community to call a halt to India “from its reckless, militarist agenda” before the Modi’s government brinkmanship pushed the region into a conflict which couldn’t be controlled.

Indian sponsorship of terrorism in Pakistan, its abuses in IIOJK & a 15-year Indian global disinformation campaign against us all stand exposed. Now India's own media has revealed the dirty nexus that is pushing our nuclearised region to the brink of a conflict it cannot afford.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 18, 2021

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said India stood further exposed with the leaked conversations revealing a “staggering new low”.

Summing up the Indian designs, Qureshi said, “[India] staged false flag operations, stoked hypernationalism, unholy BJP-crony media nexus and endangered regional security. RSS-BJP rogue regime has no credibility going to any lengths to get to and stay in power,” he added.