FO rubbishes Indian defence minister’s baseless allegations

Statement says India uses terrorism as an instrument of state policy

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan on Sunday rejected terrorism-related allegations levelled against Pakistan by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and termed them “completely baseless”, saying that India was targeting Pakistan with false propaganda campaigns for both ideological reasons and political expediency.

The Foreign Office said in a statement that India used terrorism as an instrument of state policy, adding that in this year alone, India had been involved in terrorist attacks in Johar Town, Lahore and on Chinese and Pakistani workers at Dasu.

On Sunday, Singh said, “One of our neighbouring countries has started resorting to proxy war” and terrorism. “We categorically reject Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s terrorism-related allegations against Pakistan as completely baseless,” the FO statement said.

“Pakistan has shared incontrovertible evidence with the international community of India’s state sponsorship of terrorism and subversion against Pakistan. India uses terrorism as an instrument of state policy,” the statement added.

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The statement said that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) combined had a clear anti-Muslim and anti-minority agenda, adding that they targeted Pakistan with false propaganda campaigns for both ideological reasons and political expediency.

“India’s so-called ‘surgical strikes’ and ill-conceived misadventure in Balakot in February 2019 were exposed as based on nothing but lies and deceit. Pakistan restored the strategic balance in the region by retaliating against India in a measured and firm manner,” the statement said.

The statement also referred to the Indian defence minister’s remarks about the ceasefire in Kashmir region, saying that the February 2021 reaffirmation of the 2003 ceasefire understanding only demonstrated that Pakistan was a responsible state.

“[Pakistan] wants to maintain peace in the region despite irresponsible Indian behaviour. Our desire for peace notwithstanding, Pakistan will resolutely defend itself against any aggressive Indian designs,” the statement concluded.