Pakistan condemns Indian leadership’s remarks, calls for focus on peace over hostility

Pakistan has condemned recent remarks made by Indian leadership, including those delivered during a political rally in Bihar, describing them as reflective of a “deeply troubling mindset” that prioritises hostility over peace.

"Indian leadership’s recent remarks including those made in Bihar reflect a deeply troubling mindset that prioritises hostility over peace,” said Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan in response to media queries, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

Khan said attempts to portray Pakistan as the source of regional instability are disconnected from reality. He added that the international community is aware of what he described as India’s “record of aggressive behaviour,” including allegations of documented support for terrorist activities within Pakistan.

“These facts cannot be obscured by hollow narratives or diversionary tactics,” he stated.

The comments came in response to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech in Bihar on May 30, where he referred to Operation Sindoor as “just an arrow” in India’s “quiver” and stressed that the war on terror was neither over nor halted.

Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also echoed Modi’s remarks last week, reiterating that terrorism and dialogue could not go hand in hand. During a weekly press briefing, Jaiswal stated: “I would like to underline that any bilateral discussion on Jammu and Kashmir will only be on the vacation” of the disputed territory by Pakistan.

In reaction, Khan reiterated Pakistan’s stance on the Kashmir dispute, calling it “the core issue threatening peace and stability in the region.” He said Pakistan remains committed to a just and lasting resolution of the conflict in line with UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

“To sidestep this fundamental issue is to condemn the region to continued mistrust and potential confrontation,” he added.

He further stated that recent developments had “underscored the utter futility of jingoism and coercion,” adding: “India cannot and will not achieve its objectives through threats, misrepresentation or force.”

Khan emphasised Pakistan’s commitment to peace and constructive engagement, while affirming its readiness to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against any aggression. 

“Durable peace in South Asia demands maturity, restraint, and a willingness to address the root causes of conflict, not the pursuit of narrow political gains at the expense of regional harmony,” he said.

Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours escalated earlier in May, following a deadly attack in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, where gunmen killed 26 civilians. New Delhi blamed Islamabad for orchestrating the attack, a claim Pakistan’s leadership has strongly denied. Armed forces from both countries engaged in hostilities between May 6 and 10.

By Sabina Mammadli