Parrikar equates Pakistan with hell

The Minister's statement comes a day after the Prime Minister mentioned Balochistan in his Independence Day address.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar: "They have been supporting terrorism. Now they are facing the consequences of that support." File photo

A day after > Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned Balochistan in his Independence Day address, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar equated “Pakistan” with “hell.”

“Our soldiers sent back five terrorists yesterday. And going to Pakistan or going to hell is the same,” he said at a public rally in Rewari, Haryana, on Tuesday.

On Monday, security forces foiled a infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector of Kashmir and killed five terrorists.

Mr. Parrikar said Pakistan keeps trying despite terrorists being killed. “They have been supporting terrorism. Now they are facing the consequences of that support.”

Policy change

In a major change in Pakistan policy, Mr. Modi said on Monday. “In the last few days, people of Balochistan, Gilgit, Pakistan occupied Kashmir have thanked me, have expressed gratitude, and expressed good wishes for me. The people who are living far away, whom I have never seen, never met - such people have expressed appreciation for Prime Minister of India, for 125 crore countrymen.”

Few days earlier, at an all-party meet, he referred to the atrocities by Pakistan in Balochistan, Gilgit and Pakistan occupied Kashmir.