1 week Ago By Navhind Times
Pak minister admits to the country’s history of supporting and training terrorists “When a stupid man is doing something he is ashamed of, he always declares that it is his duty.” So had said George Bernard Shaw! The famous quotation seems to fit like a glove to the Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who recently admitted that his country has had a history of backing, supporting and funding terrorist groups for decades. The official endorsement coming for this open secret from none other than Pakistan, with the backdrop of the April 22 Pahalgam carnage is nothing less than shameful confession; a blot for the mankind! Just imagining about the various terror attacks directly or indirectly sponsored by the 77-year-old nation to destabilise India’s social existence, through irreversible damage to innocent lives and property, is enough to send chills down the spine.
In an interview to the UK-based Sky News amid escalation between India and Pakistan, due to the gunning down of more-than two dozen tourists in Jammu and Kashmir, Asif said that Pakistan has been doing this “dirty work” for the United States for over 30 years, as also for the West, including Britain. He added that Pakistan’s decision was a “mistake” and it suffered for that. This delayed realisation has no value as enough damage has been done to India and Indians.
Whenever India accused Pakistan of supporting and aiding terrorist organisations and using them as proxies to cause unrest in Jammu and Kashmir, besides regularly ‘organising’ terror attacks in various Indian locations including Parliament House, the neighbouring country refuted the charges and demanded evidence. In the recent terror attack, the responsibility was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. The Pakistan Defence Minister, in the same interview further said that the present prevailing tense situation between India and Pakistan could lead to an “all-out war” in case of further escalation.
This warning was also followed with the Pak ‘philosophy’ that the world should be “worried” about the prospect of a full-scale conflict involving the two nations. The status of Pakistan as a nuclear power seems to be lurking in this veiled threat. It is an irresponsible, pathetic attempt to scare India and the world.
India, meanwhile is taking measured decisions. The decision of all major political parties in the country to give full support to the government for taking any action as deemed fit vis-à-vis Pahalgam terror attack was needed at this time of crises, to display the unity in the country. The visit of the Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi to the valley for reviewing the situation is also a welcome step for restoring confidence in the local population.
Finally, the direction of the Centre to the states to identify and deport all Pakistan nationals in their jurisdiction will ‘cleanse’ India of citizens of the neighbouring country. This direction is in consonance with the decision of the Indian government to cancel all visas for Pak nationals as part of a five-step diplomatic counter-offensive following the terror attack. The latest ‘pearls of wisdom’ coming from the Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, have referred to the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack as “freedom fighters”.
This is nothing short of rubbing salt on the wounds which will only aggravate the situation. The Indian and Pakistani forces have already started exchanging fire along the Line of Control (LOC). The advice of the UN calling for “maximum restraint” amid warnings of a wider military escalation is the wisest thing that has happened on the international level.
Hopefully, better sense will prevail among the key players from both sides..
