Escalating the attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks in Dhaka and that of other leaders, Pakistan’s Senate on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution, condemning the “provocative and hostile” statements which it said reflected the Indian “hegemonic mindset”.
Pakistan has been sharply critical of India with its leaders slamming Modi’s recent remarks in Bangladesh that Pakistan was creating disturbance and instigating terrorism in India.
The resolution, moved by leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq, said such “crude attempts” by India are unacceptable and Pakistan rejects this “hegemonic mindset”. The resolution condemned the recent “disturbing pattern of provocative and hostile” statements by Indian leaders, including threatening attacks against Pakistani territory.
The resolution said the Upper House of Parliament wishes to emphasise that Pakistan will never allow its territory to be violated by India under any pretext.
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore had said in the wake of the military action in Myanmar that it was a message to other countries which was interpreted as a warning to Pakistan.
The resolution stated that the Pakistan armed forces are fully capable of giving a befitting response to any incursion and Pakistani people stand shoulder to shoulder with their armed forces, Radio Pakistan reported.
Condemning Indian leaders’ comments, it said such statements confirm Pakistan’s apprehensions about India’s intention to destabilise Pakistan. The House urged the international community to take note of such “provocative statements” which it said negatively affected the prospects for regional peace, sovereignty and stability.
The resolution said at a time when the entire Pakistani nation, particularly the armed forces are engaged in the battle against terrorism, Indian provocations are not only undermining Pakistan’s anti-terror campaign but actually aiding and abetting terrorists fighting against Pakistan.
Concluding the discussion, Haq said that being a nuclear power Pakistan’s defence has been made indispensable. He said that the statement of Indian Prime Minister is against the UN Charter.
Haq alleged that India on one hand is making a “useless effort” to become a permanent member of UN Security Council and on the other hand it is “violating the UN Charter by carrying out human rights violations in Kashmir.”
He said the security forces of Pakistan are engaged in the fight against terrorism to save the world from the menace. Haq claimed India’s activities to distract attention from the war are a “crime against humanity”.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attacked the “irresponsible and imprudent” statements from the Indian political leadership and vowed to protect his country’s “vital interests at all costs”.
Addressing a conference of Pakistan’s envoys here, he said such statements vitiate the atmosphere and take the two countries away from goals of regional peace and stability.
“The entire nation is dismayed by the recent irresponsible and I must say imprudent statements from the Indian political leadership. This vitiates the atmosphere and takes us further away from our goal of regional peace and stability. We will protect our vital interests at all costs,” he said.
This message, Sharif said, must be heard loud and clear. “At the same time we will not abandon our high moral ground because of provocations. We will continue our quest for a peaceful neighbourhood,” he said.
Sharif said externally-sponsored terrorism and violent extremism were grave threats to a secure and prosperous Pakistan. He said the issue of Jammu & Kashmir cannot be relegated to the back-burner of history.
The Prime Minister pointed out that only on last Tuesday during his meeting with the UN Secretary General in Dushanbe, he urged him to play a proactive role in promoting peace in the region.
Sharif said he also reminded him that it was incumbent on the UN Security Council to ensure early implementation of its resolutions on Jammu & Kashmir.