Responding to Modi’s speech Pakistani Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that, “Modi was only trying to divert world attention from the grim tragedy that has been unfolding in the Indian Occupied Kashmir over the past five weeks”. Angry protestors set ablaze the Indian flag and chanted slogans against the Indian Prime Minister at many places.
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Speaking in a PTV programme, he said the worldwide community considers Kashmir a disputed territory. The Balochistan issue is reported to be somewhat similar to what Kashmir is to India.
The situation in Kashmir was the result of Pakistan’s interference and backing of cross-border terrorism, the sources said. Since July 9 Jammu and Kashmir, the only Muslim-majority state in India, has been experiencing a wave of violence that forced government to close schools, businesses and official agencies, including postal offices and banks, and paralyze transport.
Hours after Pakistan said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had crossed the “red line” by discussing Balochistan, India hit back by saying Pakistan’s record of cross-border terrorism was central to the current situation in the region.
Pakistani rangers (wearing black uniforms) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) officers lower their national flags during a daily parade at the Pakistan-India joint check-post at Wagah border, near Lahore November 3, 2014. She was obliquely referring to Pakistan.
Not only Barbs were exchanged between Singh and Pakistan Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, who only had a tense and uneasy handshake during the SAARC meeting, but also the Pakistani authorities had denied the entry of Indian media.
The attack on Pathankot air base earlier this year by Pakistan-based terrorists just six days after Modi’s goodwill visit to Lahore seems to have convinced Modi and his advisors of the futility of pursuing dialogue with Pakistan, Curtis noted.
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The interior minister stressed the need to “take time out to reflect and sit together to try and work out the problems and reservations that we might harbour towards each other” instead of engaging in blame games and taking swipes at each other.
