Pakistan has condemned the “provocative remarks” made by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who stated in an interview that India would enter Pakistan to eliminate anyone who escapes over its border after attempting to carry out attacks.
Singh’s comments on Friday followed a report in the Guardian newspaper that India had killed approximately 20 people in Pakistan since 2020 as part of a broader plan to target “terrorists residing on foreign soil.”
“India’s assertion of its readiness to extra-judicially execute more civilians, arbitrarily labeled as ‘terrorists,’ inside Pakistan is a clear admission of culpability,” Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Saturday.
The ministry also stated that such “short-sighted and irresponsible behavior” not only undermines regional peace but also hinders the prospect of constructive engagement in the long term.
“Pakistan stands resolute in its intent and ability to safeguard its sovereignty against any act of aggression,” the ministry added.
During his interview with local broadcaster CNN News18 on Friday, the Indian defence chief was asked about the Guardian report and responded: ”If they run away to Pakistan, we will enter Pakistan to kill them.”
“India always wants to maintain good relations with its neighboring countries… But if anyone shows India the angry eyes again and again, comes to India and tries to promote terrorist activities, we will not spare them,” Singh added.
Tense relations
Pakistani security officials, speaking to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity, acknowledged at least six killings took place in 2023, and two in the year before.
They said they believed these killings were carried out by a “hostile intelligence agency” – code for India’s external spy agency, the Research and Analysis Wing – and were investigating.
Relations between India and Pakistan have worsened since a 2019 suicide bombing of an Indian military convoy…
Source from www.aljazeera.com