Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come under attack from several quarters, especially the Congress, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference, over Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s recent endorsement.
On Tuesday, 9 April, Reuters reported that Khan, in an interview with a group of foreign journalists, said he believes there may be a better chance of peace talks with India and settling the Kashmir issue if Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wins the general elections.
“Perhaps if the BJP... wins, some kind of settlement in Kashmir could be reached.”Imran Khan
Naming Kashmir as the central issue between both countries, Khan said other parties would be afraid of right-wing backlash in case of settlement on the Kashmir issue.
‘Pakistan Has Officially Allied With Modi’
Citing the media report, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said Pakistan has “officially allied” with Modi, adding that a vote for him would be a vote for the neighbouring country.
The truth is out in the open, Surjewala claimed.
Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah, too, lashed out at the prime minister.
The Aam Aadmi Party’s Sanjay Singh said it was unprecedented that a Pakistan prime minister was “deciding” the fate of Indian elections.
‘Pakistan Taking Action Against JeM’
Tensions between the two neighbouring nations flared up after the 14 February attack, in which a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) killed 40 CRPF personnel in Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Amid mounting outrage, the Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting a JeM training camp in Balakot on 26 February. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured an IAF Wing Commander, who was handed over to India on 1 March.
In the interview, Khan said that Pakistan was taking action against all militant groups, including the JeM. He said that groups like the JeM were being disarmed under a serious drive to eliminate militancy from Pakistan.
“We have taken the religious schools of these groups under state control. It is first serious effort to disarm the militant outfits.”Imran Khan
Khan said action was taken because it was important for the future of Pakistan. He also rejected the impression that Pakistan was compelled by the world to taken such an action.
(With inputs from PTI and Reuters)
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