If the Indian Kashmiris get to know how the Pakistani Army is treating Kashmiris in the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), I don’t think that they will ever think of joining the other side, Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said as he sought to highlight not just the Pakistan-sponsored terrorism but also the frequent violations on the Pakistani side of the line of Control.
Speaking during an interaction in Panaji, on Sunday night, Parrikar said the time was right to highlight before the international and national media the deeds of the Pakistani Army in Kashmir.
“If only the Kashmiris know what the Pakistani Army is doing, I do not think they will want to be part of that. Kashmiris are also very proud people in their own right,” Parrikar said.
“It is time for India to throw light on the human rights violations in Pakistan. It has to be dealt with seriously,” Parrikar said referring not just to Pakistan Government violations but also terror activities within Pakistan.
“You find kids being murdered, butchered in Peshawar. You find people going to mosques for prayers being killed. Killing is almost everywhere in Pakistan. This is a result of the poisonous seeds of the ‘Hate India Campaign’ they have sown,” he added.
“This is a result of the poisonous seeds of the hate India campaign they have sown,” he added. Responding to a question on whether India should proactively attack targets in Pakistan, which has been proven to sponsor cross-border terrorism, Parrikar said the country was capable of effectively countering the infiltration.
“India is capable of defending itself and neutralise cross border terrorism effectively. The nation is doing whatever needs to be done,” said Parrikar, adding that Pakistan was increasingly worried that India was growing in strength.
Parrikar said infiltration bids along the loC were continuing under the cover of Pakistani fire and that there was “definitely support from Pakistan.”
“A good neighbour is what we want. We spend so much just to increase strength against the other,” Parrikar added.