Islamabad has strongly criticized the “provocative” statements made by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during a recent televised interview. Singh’s remarks, reported by The Guardian, seemed to confirm India’s involvement in an alleged assassination campaign in Pakistan.
In the interview with Indian TV news network News18, Singh stated, “If any terrorist from a neighboring country tries to disturb India or carry out terrorist activities here, he will be given a fitting reply. If he escapes to Pakistan, we will go to Pakistan and kill him there.”
Singh’s comments came in the wake of The Guardian’s report, which claimed that at least 20 individuals had been assassinated in Pakistan since 2020 on the orders of Indian intelligence operatives. The report, citing evidence provided by Pakistani security agencies, also mentioned Indian officers acknowledging the new policy of targeting enemies and dissidents abroad.
This acknowledgment by Singh marks the first time India has publicly admitted to such operations, according to The Guardian’s follow-up report.
In response, Pakistan’s Foreign Office issued a statement officially condemning the Indian defence minister’s remarks. The statement referenced Pakistan’s earlier provision of “irrefutable evidence” on India’s involvement in extrajudicial killings and transnational assassinations within Pakistani territory.
The Foreign Office asserted that India’s readiness to carry out further extrajudicial executions inside Pakistan constitutes an admission of guilt and urged the international community to hold India accountable for its actions.
Furthermore, the statement highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty and maintaining regional peace, while criticizing India’s use of “hateful rhetoric” for electoral gains. It emphasized Pakistan’s resolve to defend itself against any aggression and reiterated its desire for peace in the region.
