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Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Inflaming the region for votes
EDITORIAL: It is not the first time that an Indian election campaign has found itself tangled in jingoism. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi's latest tirade, delivered from the Rajasthan stump, drops the pretence of statesmanship altogether. His reckless allegations against Pakistan are not just baseless – they are, in fact, incendiary. And as the Pakistani Foreign Office rightly noted, they are designed to stoke regional tensions for narrow political gains. This is politics at its most dangerous. To posture for votes by peddling distortions about a neighbouring nuclear-armed state is not just irresponsible – it is profoundly destabilising. That Modi chooses to speak in the language of war while the subcontinent teeters on the edge of environmental, economic, and demographic stress says less about Pakistan and more about the disarray within India itself. We are meant to believe, once again, that the source of India's unrest lies across the border. But who, truly, has gained from the politics of terror in South Asia? Pakistan has spent the better part of two decades fighting the fallout of extremism – at great human and economic cost. Thousands of lives have been lost, and billions drained from a struggling economy, precisely because the country made the difficult choice to take on militant groups. India, on the other hand, has found it politically convenient to weaponise the language of counterterrorism not against terrorists, but against Pakistan itself. Indeed, it is India whose record of fomenting instability in the region is now the worst kept secret in intelligence circles. From the arrest of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav to documented support for anti-Pakistan elements in Afghanistan, New Delhi's hand in destabilising its neighbours has long been visible to those who care to look past the official denials and media fog. Even within its own borders, the Indian government has exploited 'terror' to justify the brutal suppression of dissent in Kashmir, silence political opposition, and demonise its Muslim minority. That Modi's rhetoric comes as elections approach should surprise no one. The formula is tired but effective: portray Pakistan as the eternal enemy, conflate Muslims with terrorism, wrap it all in the tricolour, and let the news anchors do the rest. If that creates a diplomatic crisis or ignites military tensions, so be it – provided the next headline reads 'Modi Strong on Security.' But this time, Pakistan has not let the accusation go unchallenged. The Foreign Office's sharp response has made it clear that any attempt to turn political theatre into military adventurism will be met in kind. Pakistan does not seek conflict. It has extended the hand of dialogue time and again, only to be met with silence or sabre-rattling. But this desire for peace should never be confused for weakness. As history has shown, when tested, Pakistan has responded with discipline, resolve, and precision. There is a deeper danger here, however, that goes beyond India and Pakistan. When the largest democracy in the world uses the language of war to distract from its own failures – economic discontent, rural unrest, the crumbling promise of 'Make in India,' and the brutalisation of minorities – it creates a model for others to follow. Authoritarian populism dressed up as nationalism does not stop at one border. It is not just Pakistan that must stay vigilant. The region as a whole – already fragile – cannot afford another round of posturing from Delhi. Nor can the international community continue to indulge India's double game: acting as a responsible global actor abroad while playing with fire at home. Modi's comments are not the mark of a confident state. They are the symptoms of political insecurity. And the more India tries to distract from the truth – of repression in Kashmir, of internal unrest, of economic underperformance – the louder its leaders shout across the border. Pakistan's position remains principled: peace, dialogue, and mutual respect. But if challenged, it will respond with strength. And in the end, it is those who toy with fire for the sake of applause who get burned. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Arab News
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan PM embarks today on regional diplomacy tour after ceasefire with India
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to begin today, Sunday, a five-day tour of Turkiye, Iran, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan to thank leadership for supporting Islamabad during this month's military conflict with India, the Pakistani foreign office said. Pakistan and India this month traded missile, drone and artillery strikes for days, killing around 70 people on both sides, before agreeing to a US-brokered ceasefire on May 10. The conflict, the worst between the neighbors in decades, was triggered by an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22 that New Delhi blamed on Pakistan. Islamabad denies complicity. During the conflict, several friendly nations supported Pakistan's demand for a credible, international probe into the attack as they urged the nuclear-armed archfoes to exercise restraint. 'During the visit, the prime minister will have wide-ranging discussions with the leaders of these countries on an entire range of issues covering bilateral relations and matters of regional and international importance,' Pakistan's foreign office said. 'He will also have the opportunity to express the deepest appreciation and acknowledgment for the support extended to Pakistan by the friendly countries during the recent crisis with India.' Bitter rivals India and Pakistan have fought three wars, including two over the disputed region of Kashmir, since gaining independence from British rule in 1947. Both claim the Himalayan territory in its entirety but rule it in part. The conflict had raised fears that it could spiral into a full-blown war. Both countries have separately announced sending delegations to key capitals and friendly countries to present their stance on this month's standoff before the world, in a bid to gain world support. During his visit aimed at furthering Pakistan's diplomatic outreach, Sharif will also attend an International Conference on Glaciers in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on May 29-30, according to the Pakistani foreign office. The conference aims to advance global efforts in climate adaptation and resilience, with a specific focus on addressing glacial melting. Pakistan is highly vulnerable to climate change, facing numerous impacts like rising temperatures and increased frequency of extreme weather events. Officials say unusually high temperatures in Pakistan's northern areas have resulted in rapid melting of glaciers, warning that the prolonged phenomenon could lead to water shortages and threaten lives in the longer run.
Arab News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Islamabad says Indian PM's remarks about Pakistan violate norms of ‘responsible statecraft'
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani foreign office on Friday criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks in which he warned of economic and military consequences for Pakistan, saying his statement violated 'the norms of responsible statecraft.' Modi said Pakistan will not get water from rivers over which India has rights, and that Pakistan's army and economy will have to 'pay a heavy price for every terrorist attack,' upping the rhetoric in a standoff over water access. India last month said it was suspending the Indus Waters Treaty in a slew of measures after the killing of 26 people in an April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that New Delhi blamed on Islamabad, a charge Pakistan dismisses. In its response to Modi's comments at an event in Rajasthan, the Pakistani foreign office said such statements not only reflect a 'deliberate attempt to mislead the public but also violate the norms of responsible statecraft.' 'Resorting to threats and boasting about military action against a sovereign nation is a grave breach of the United Nations Charter and established principles of international law,' it said. 'This dangerous approach undermines regional peace and stability.' Any move to stop Pakistan accessing the water would have a devastating impact. The Indus treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, guarantees water for 80 percent of Pakistan's farms from three rivers that flow from India. The nuclear-armed neighbors have already clashed in their worst military fighting in nearly three decades before agreeing to a ceasefire on May 10. Islamabad maintains the treaty is legally binding and no party can unilaterally suspend it, with its Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan saying that Pakistan is willing to talk about or to address any concerns India may have. The foreign office said Pakistan remains a consistent and proactive partner in the global fight against militancy and any insinuation seeking to associate Pakistan with 'acts of terrorism is factually incorrect and patently misleading.' 'It is a tactic often employed to divert attention from India's own internal challenges, particularly its repressive policies [in Kashmir],' it said on Friday. India and Pakistan share a troubled relationship since they got independence from British rule in 1947, and have fought three wars, two of them over the Himalayan region of Kashmir, which they both claim in full but rule in part. India accuses Pakistan of backing armed separatists in Kashmir. Pakistan denies this and says it only offers diplomatic and political support to Kashmiris. Pakistan's prime minister and military have also accused 'Indian terror proxies' of involvement in a suicide bomb blast on an army school bus in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province that killed five people, including three children, on Wednesday. India rejected the allegation. Both nations have retaliated since the April attack by halting trade, closing borders and suspending most visas. The Pakistani foreign office urged the Indian leadership to exercise restraint, saying such escalatory statements only exacerbate tensions. 'India should demonstrate maturity by resolving outstanding disputes through peaceful dialogue and diplomacy,' it said. 'Pakistan remains firmly committed to peaceful coexistence, regional stability, and constructive engagement. However, our desire for peace should not be misconstrued as weakness... Any misadventure or aggression will be met with a resolute and proportionate response. Pakistan has demonstrated its resolve in the past and will do so again, if required.'
Arab News
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan fires back at India over allegations of mistreatment of minorities
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani Foreign Office on Saturday rejected Indian allegations of mistreatment of minorities in Pakistan, calling New Delhi a 'serial violator of those very rights.' The statement came in response to Indian Minister of External Affairs (MEA) Subrahmanyam Jaishankar's remarks in parliament about 'crimes and atrocities against minorities' in Pakistan. Jaishankar said they 'follow very closely and track the treatment of minorities in Pakistan,' and there were 10 cases of 'atrocities' against the Hindu community in Feb., English-language daily Hindustan Times reported. In response, the Pakistani Foreign Office said New Delhi was in no position to champion minority rights as it remained a serial violator of those very rights in India. 'In Pakistan, state institutions actively work to safeguard minorities as a matter of policy,' it said. 'In stark contrast, incidents targeting minorities in India frequently occur with the tacit approval — or even complicity — of elements within the ruling dispensation.' The two countries traded barbs days after a US panel on religious freedom said the treatment of minorities in Pakistan and India was 'deteriorating,' recommending sanctions be imposed on the former's officials and government agencies and the latter's external spy agency over its alleged involvement in plots to assassinate Sikh separatists. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), a bipartisan US government advisory body that monitors religious freedom abroad and makes policy recommendations, said this in its annual report on Wednesday. Archrivals Pakistan and India routinely level similar accusations against each other, but both countries have often failed to safeguard minority rights and protect them against various attacks. 'Pakistan is a country where human rights abuses, the persecution of minorities, and the systematic erosion of democratic values are state policies,' Jaishankar said during the parliamentary session on Friday. The Pakistani Foreign Office responded by saying that the 'systematic promotion of hatred, discrimination, and violence against minorities in India is well-documented,' citing the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2002 Gujarat massacre, 2020 Delhi pogrom, 1992 demolition of Babri Mosque and other incidents. 'Rather than feigning concern for minorities elsewhere, the Indian government would do well to address its own failures,' it said. 'It must take concrete steps to ensure the safety, protection, and well-being of minorities — including Muslims — and safeguard their places of worship, cultural heritage, and fundamental rights.'
Arab News
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan calls Indian PM's remarks about regional peace ‘misleading and one-sided'
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Foreign Office on Monday said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent remarks on a podcast about regional peace were 'misleading and one-sided,' criticizing New Delhi for 'conveniently' omitting the Kashmir dispute from discussions. Modi, in a podcast with American computer scientist and podcaster Lex Fridman released on Sunday, said that India's attempts to foster peace with Pakistan were 'met with hostility and betrayal' and hoped that 'wisdom would prevail' on the leadership in Islamabad to improve bilateral ties. In response to Modi's remarks, the Pakistani Foreign Office said India's 'fictitious narrative of victimhood' could not hide its involvement in fomenting militancy on Pakistan's soil and the 'state-sanctioned oppression' Indian-administered Kashmir. The Muslim-majority Himalayan region of Kashmir has been a flashpoint between Pakistan and India since their independence from the British rule in 1947. Both Pakistan and India rule parts of the Himalayan territory, but claim it in full and have fought three wars over the disputed region. 'Instead of blaming others, India should reflect on its own record of orchestrating targeted assassinations, subversion and terrorism in foreign territories,' it said in a statement. 'Pakistan has always advocated constructive engagement and result-oriented dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues, including the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir.' The statement by the Pakistani Foreign Office was a reference to allegations against Indian agents of plotting assassinations in the United States (US) and Canada. In Jan. 2024, Pakistan also accused India of 'extraterritorial' and 'extrajudicial' killings of two of its citizens on Pakistani soil, while it has consistently accused India along with other countries of fomenting militancy in its western provinces, particularly Balochistan. New Delhi denies all allegations. The Pakistani Foreign Office further said that peace and stability in South Asia have remained 'hostage to India's rigid approach and hegemonic ambitions.' 'The anti-Pakistan narrative, emanating from India, vitiates the bilateral environment and impedes the prospects for peace and cooperation,' it said. 'It must stop.'
