Pakistan strongly condemned Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s remarks regarding India’s readiness to cross the Line of Control (LoC) and said it is fully prepared to respond to India’s provocations.
Speaking at an event in Ladakh’s Drass town on the 24th Kargil Vijay Divas on Wednesday, Singh said if India did not cross the LoC during the Kargil War despite the victory, it does not mean that it could not cross it now. These comments have drawn sharp criticism from Pakistan.
WATCH: "We will cross LoC in future, if needed" Defence Minister Rajnath Singh sends warning to Pakistan while commemmorating anniversary of Kargil War. #KargilVijayDiwas #RajnathSingh pic.twitter.com/8ugMCZ9V35
— Statecraft (@statecraftdaily) July 26, 2023
Pakistan Condemns Singh’s Remarks
In a weekly media briefing on Thursday, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said, “Pakistan strongly condemns the provocative statement made by the Indian Defence Minister on 26 July 2023 in Ladakh, boasting India’s readiness to cross the Line of Control.”
Calling Singh’s remarks unwarranted and totally unacceptable, Baloch said they reflect India’s hostility against its neighbours, particularly Pakistan.
Singh had remarked, “We could cross the LoC [after winning the Kargil War], we can cross the LoC, and will cross the LoC in the future if need be.”
Pakistan emphasised that it is fully capable of defending itself against any aggression, as demonstrated in its forceful response to India’s “misadventure” in February 2019. Baloch referred to the border skirmishes in 2019, which saw a series of armed clashes, including cross-border airstrikes and exchanges of gunfire between India and Pakistan across the LoC in the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region.
The spokesperson said, “This is not the first time that India’s political leaders and senior military officers have made such highly irresponsible and delusional remarks about Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.”
Spokesperson @Mumtazzb on #Pakistan's capability to defend itself against any aggression. pic.twitter.com/VC4AcGYjpx
— Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) July 27, 2023
Baloch accused Indian leaders of routinely engaging in jingoistic rhetoric for political ends by stoking hyper-nationalism and anti-Pakistan sentiment. “This practice of dragging Pakistan into Indian political discourse must end.”
She further commented that these statements constitute a threat to regional peace and security and aim to destabilise the strategic environment in South Asia.
“While fully prepared to respond to India’s provocations and irresponsible behaviour, Pakistan will continue to act responsibly and contribute to all efforts for promoting peace, security, and stability in the region,” she said during the press briefing.
Pakistan Extends Support to Kashmir
Pakistan reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally-recognised disputed territory.
Calling India’s claims on Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan “founded in fantasy,” Baloch stated that neither history and international law nor morality and the situation on the ground can validate India’s illusions.
The Ministry urged India to focus on fully implementing the relevant UNSC resolutions. Pakistan said that according to the resolutions, a decision on Kashmir would be made following the people’s will through a free and impartial plebiscite conducted under the auspices of the UN.
“Pakistan will continue to extend political, diplomatic, and moral support to our Kashmiri brothers and sisters for the just and peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolutions,” the Pakistani spokesperson stated.