India condemns Pakistan call for jihad

“The provocative statements from Pakistan include call for jihad and inciting violence in India,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

August 29, 2019 05:27 pm | Updated June 08, 2020 10:35 pm IST - New Delhi

Raveesh Kumar, spokesman for the Indian Foreign Ministry. File

Raveesh Kumar, spokesman for the Indian Foreign Ministry. File

Pakistan’s recent statements regarding Kashmir are aimed at painting an alarming situation in India, Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry, said here on Thursday.

At the weekly briefing, Mr. Kumar condemned Pakistan’s statements that had called for waging a jihad against India.

“Statements and tweets have been issued from Pakistan that have called for violence in India. Pakistan should understand that the world has realised its clever moves and they will not be fooled by such tactics. We strongly condemn highly irresponsible statements made by the Pakistani leadership that called for jihad and intended to present an alarmist situation in India,” Mr. Kumar said.

Also read | Pakistan has no locus standi on Kashmir, says Rajnath Singh

The statement came a day after Islamabad’s Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari wrote to several UN officials citing human rights violations in Kashmir after India ended the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5 and bifurcated the territory.

The Minister has argued in her public statements that the right of self-determination is a “legally enforceable” right.

However, Mr. Kumar said he would not like to lend any credence to the letter from the Minister.

“The letter is not even worth the paper on which it was written on,” said Mr. Kumar, who urged Pakistan to behave like a “normal country”.

He reiterated the Indian position about Pakistan using terrorists and terror groups operating from its soil.

“Normal neighbours do not push terrorists into a neighbouring country. Normal neighbours do normal talk and normal trade. This is not something that Pakistan is doing,” said Mr. Kumar, acknowledging that intelligence reports suggest some terror elements from Pakistan are trying to enter Indian territory through the sea route.

He maintained that the Indian military is ready to deal with any such threat.

Pakistan on Thursday tested a short-range ballistic missile, after informing India and by following protocol.

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