‘England chala jaunga': Pakistan MP's reply on war with India breaks internet; BJP says THIS
Amid fears of a war between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam attack, a Pakistani MP's plan in case such a scenario break out is taking over the internet.
Sher Afzal Khan Marwat, a member of Pakistan's National Assembly and former aide of jailed ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan, made a controversial statement, with videos of the alleged comment going viral on social media.
The legislator was questioned by a journalist about a possible war and if he would take up arms and go to the border to fight if something like that happens.
Surprisingly, Sher Afzal Khan Marwat made it clear he won't do any such thing, as per the video.
'Agar jung badh jaati hai toh main England chala jaunga (I will go to England if war breaks out with India),' he said in a curt reply.
He also made a controversial statement about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when asked if the Indian leader would back down in order to de-escalate the tensions with Pakistan.
'Is Modi my family member that he will step back just because I say so,' he said sarcastically.
Mint could not independently verify the authenticity or the timeline of the video.
The comment went viral on social media, with users saying that even Pakistani leaders do not trust the Pakistan Army.
Sher Afzal Khan Marwat earlier a member of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. However, following repeated criticism of the party, he was removed from key posts.
The BJP reacted to the Pakistan MP's comments.
'Pakistan is convinced that it neither has trust in its army nor in its defence capabilities. Pakistani ministers have booked tickets for their families to England and other countries,' BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari told news agency ANI.
'There is a consensus in Pakistan that it cannot fight India's defence capabilities. The people of Pakistan and the entire world think that under the leadership of PM Modi, India is going to give a befitting reply to Pakistan.'
Tensions between India and Pakistan have been high since the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians, mostly tourists. India has flagged 'cross-border links' on the attack, while taking strategic actions against Pakistan.
It has suspended the crucial Indus Water Treaty, closed its airspace for Pakistani airlines, cancelled visas of most Pakistani nationals and announced a complete ban on imports among other things.
First Published: 4 May 2025, 05:48 PM IST
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
29 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Pakistan boosts defence budget by 20% but slashes overall spending in 2025-26
Pakistan will raise defence spending by a steep 20% after a military clash with its old enemy India last month, but will slash overall federal expenditure for fiscal 2025-26 by a hefty 7% to 17.57 trillion rupees ($62 billion). The budget presented on Tuesday by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government allocated 2.55 trillion rupees ($9 billion) to defence in July-June 2025-26, up from 2.12 trillion. It projected a deficit of 3.9% of GDP against the 5.9% targeted for 2024-25. Inflation was projected at 7.5% and growth at 4.2%. The South Asian nation wants to kickstart growth while boosting its defences after the worst fighting with its neighbour in nearly three decades – which it has cast as a victory – and meeting the strictures of an International Monetary Fund finance programme. 'After defeating India in a conventional war, now we have to surpass it in the economic field,' Sharif said in a statement. Pakistan must also contend with the uncertainty of new import tariffs being imposed by the United States, its biggest export market. The clash with India was sparked in April by Islamists who killed 26 men in an attack on Hindu tourists in Indian Kashmir. Islamabad denied New Delhi's allegation that the militants were backed by Pakistan. Four days of fighting featured jets, missiles, drones and artillery. For the coming year, Pakistan's government allocated 742 billion Pakistani rupees ($2.63 billion) to military pensions, taking the entire defence budget to 3.292 trillion Pakistani rupees ($11.67 billion). That included 704 billion Pakistani rupees ($2.5 billion) in spending on equipment and other physical assets. India's defence spending in its 2025–26 (April-March) fiscal year was set at $78.7 billion, up 9.5%, including pensions and $21 billion earmarked for equipment. It has indicated that it too will boost defence spending further. Sharif's government has projected 4.2% economic growth in 2025-26, saying it has steadied the economy, which looked at risk of defaulting on its debts as recently as 2023. Growth this fiscal year is likely to be 2.7%, against the budgeted target of 3.6%. Pakistan's growth lags far behind the region. In 2024, South Asian countries grew by an average of 5.8% and the Asian Development Bank expects 6.0% in 2025. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said the government intended to complete the privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines, a request of the IMF. Growth should be aided by a sharp drop in the cost of borrowing, the government says, after a succession of interest rate cuts. But economists warn that monetary policy alone may not be enough, with fiscal constraints and IMF-mandated reforms still weighing on investment. Aurangzeb said that the budget was the start of a strategy to boost exports, increase foreign currency reserves to avoid the balance of payments crises of the past, and create a more competitive economy. 'In short, our budget strategy is to change the economy's DNA by bringing basic changes,' he said.
Indian Express
30 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Bengal Assembly Resolution on Pahalgam terror Attack: Mamata slams Centre, says ‘Total failure, colossal lapse in internal security'
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday demanded the resignation of the BJP government at the Centre over the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 men, mostly tourists, were killed, calling it a 'total failure of the government' and a 'colossal lapse' in internal security. Speaking in the Assembly during the passing of a resolution commending the Indian armed forces for their precision strikes on terror hubs in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor – though the resolution did not mention its name – the chief minister said India had a 'golden opportunity' to reclaim Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) during last month's military conflict but failed to act decisively as she questioned the foreign policy of the BJP government. 'We had an opportunity to take control of PoK. Instead, Pakistan has been allowed in a committee on terrorism created by the UN. Is there a flaw in our foreign policy?' she said. Demanding accountability from the Centre for what she called a 'colossal lapse' in internal security during the Pahalgam terror attack, the chief minister said: 'When terrorists attacked, there were no police there. Kashmir police is not controlled by the state government. Those who were attacked by the terrorists repeatedly asked for help. But no police personnel, Army men were there to help them… Why were no security forces or police personnel present at the spot? We don't know the attackers in Pahalgam till date. No one has been arrested…Why? How did such an attack happen in a high-security zone.. This is a total failure of government, a total failure of agencies.' Asserting that 'we don't support terrorism; it has no religion, caste, or creed', Banerjee said those responsible for the Pahalgam killings must be brought to justice without delay. She praised the Indian military action, stating, 'There was a need for teaching them a lesson. We salute the bravery of our armed forces.' Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshows following Operation Sindoor, the TMC chief said that he was only 'busy advertising himself'. 'You just roam around promoting sindoor. We respect sindoor. You don't respect women. Why didn't the Prime Minister visit Rajouri, Poonch sites (hit by Pakistan shelling)?' she asked. Accusing the BJP of trying to politicise the valour of the armed forces with an eye on elections, she also recalled how the BJP allegedly politicised the Pulwama terror attack in the past and warned against similar attempts to 'provoke unrest' ahead of the upcoming general elections. Pointing to the BJP legislators, who chanted 'Modi Modi', Banerjee said: 'Apnader bhoi laage… Election aele ekta Pulwama korte hobe, eta jeno na hoi ('We are afraid of you…when election comes, do another Pulwama, that should not happen)'. She was referring to Pulwama terror attack in which a suicide bomber targeted a convoy of the CRPF, killing nearly 40 personnel, on Februaray 14, 2019, months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The CM also questioned why the Prime Minister or Defence Minister Rajnath Singh did not visit any foreign country instead had sent parliamentary delegations composed of MPs from Opposition parties. 'You needed to send your own minister, your Defence Minister. You should have gone yourself. Instead of you going, you sent the opposition parties, they did that job. That's why I thank them for doing their job brilliantly,' she said. Seven parliamentary delegations were sent to major global capitals to reinforce India's diplomatic messaging following Operation Sindoor. Amidst the ruckus, Banerjee continued her attack on the Centre, raising questions, and the recent appointment of Pakistan as the vice chair of the UN's anti-terror committee. 'Pakistan has become the vice chair of the UN's anti-terror committee. How? Were we lacking in diplomatic relations?' she asked, while calling External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar 'a good person, a capable bureaucrat.' Pakistan, a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the 2025-26 term, will chair the Council's Taliban Sanctions Committee for 2025 and will be vice-chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the 15-nation UN organ. She also expressed concern about India's diplomatic strategy with respect to Pakistan. 'I don't know if there is an issue with our diplomacy, as Pakistan is still getting loans from the IMF, instead of being cornered internationally,' the CM said. She added, 'I support the resolution because I think this strike was important to send a strong message. I pay my respects to those who lost their lives. Terrorism can never be forgiven.' Banerjee referred to reports of Pakistani spies being arrested from Gujarat, the home state of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. 'How did information from Modi-Shah's state reach Pakistan?' she asked. Tempers flared in the House when BJP legislators interrupted her speech. Banerjee shot back, calling the BJP 'uncivilised' and 'liars'. 'You are fake Hindus. My voice will drown out your noise. You only promote yourselves and insult the people of this country,' she said, addressing the BJP benches amid loud sloganeering from both the opposition and treasury benches. With PTI Atri Mitra is a Special Correspondent of The Indian Express with more than 20 years of experience in reporting from West Bengal, Bihar and the North-East. He has been covering administration and political news for more than ten years and has a keen interest in political development in West Bengal. Atri holds a Master degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University and Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. He is also an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. He started his career with leading vernacular daily the Anandabazar Patrika, and worked there for more than fifteen years. He worked as Bihar correspondent for more than three years for Anandabazar Patrika. He covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections. He also worked with News18-Bangla and covered the Bihar Lok Sabha election in 2019. ... Read More
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
Op Sindoor showed India now responds with strength if war imposed on it: Yogi
Lucknow: Chief Minister on Tuesday said that showcased India's military might and asserted that India now responds with strength rather than silence if someone imposes war on the country. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Speaking at a press conference to highlight the achievements of the Modi govt at the Centre in past 11 years, the CM said that these years would be remembered as a "golden period in the making of a self-reliant India". "India now responds with strength rather than silence and if someone imposes war on the country, the answer will be in the form of Operation Sindoor. If someone encourages terrorism, the answer will be surgical strikes, air strikes and Operation Sindoor," Yogi said. "The whole world has seen the Indian military power, tested in Pakistan and trusted by the world," he added. "There was a tendency to chant the mantra of peace even in the face of aggression. But through the 'new normal' established under the current leadership, that approach has been completely reversed. Now, India responds with strength, not silence." He said that under Modi's leadership, India regained its honour on the global platform, which had "diminished during the 65 years of Congress and other unstable govts", he said. He said that PM Modi had given India a distinct global identity. "His governance is marked by service, good administration and welfare of the poor. Better service delivery on the ground has been assigned as primary duty and responsibility in the BJP ruled states," Yogi said. "Country has become free of corruption and nepotism while appeasement of community has been discouraged. Before 2014, country was facing various threats and vulnerabilities but after Modi took over, New India has leaped on the path of progress," he added. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "The vision of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' (One India, Great India) is being realised. India's 140 crore citizens have witnessed the govt's firm commitment to national unity and integrity, as well as its decisive approach towards security and terrorism," he added. Highlighting economic progress, he said the country's economy made great strides under PM Modi. "Through constant monitoring and thoughtful spending outlay, our country has become fourth largest economy in the world. India is the only country which has managed to double its per capita income from Rs 79,000 in 2013-14 to Rs 2.5 lakh. Soon, the country will climb to the third spot," he said. "Before 2014, India was marked by instability. Economy was uncertain, and people lacked confidence about the country's future. From 1947 to 2014, India had only managed to become the world's 11th largest economy and even that was fragile," he said. "Focus has been on deploying technology tools. Our govt has redefined the way IT services and direct beneficiary transfers are taking place," Yogi said. Referring to the abrogation of Article 370, Yogi said that decision brought Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh fully into the constitutional fold. Pointing towards the way infrastructure has been augmented, Yogi said that pace of highway construction had tripled — from 11km per day during the UPA era to over 35km per day at present. "Successful coordination of faith and economy has created a new model of development, with spiritual heritage becoming a catalyst for economic growth," he said and cited the example of the Maha Kumbh, where five new economic corridors emerged, boosting employment and regional economies. "Under Lakhpati Didi Yojana, the goal is to make 3 crore women financially independent. Already, 10 crore women have joined over 90 lakh self-help groups. Presently, 14,500 schools are being upgraded under PM Shri school for foundational education. Since 2014, 8 new IITs, 7 IIMs, 490 new universities have been established and 8.6 lakh jobs were created through PSUs," Yogi said. "PM's vision of 'Healthy India, Capable India' has brought unprecedented reforms in the country's healthcare sector. While Congress govts built only one AIIMS, Atal Bihari Vajpayee added six, and Prime Minister Modi expanded the number to 23 — including two in Uttar Pradesh (Gorakhpur and Rae Bareli)," he said. "Till 2014, India had just 180 medical colleges but now there are 2,045 medical colleges nationwide, with 80 in Uttar Pradesh alone," Yogi said. He said that under Ayushman Bharat, over 50 crore people had been provided health cover and free treatment worth Rs 1.3 lakh crore. "Through e-Sanjeevani, over 37 crore teleconsultations have been provided, transforming healthcare accessibility across India," he said.
