New Delhi: India has dismissed Pakistan’s claim that it will launch another attack against its western neighbour, accusing the Imran Khan government of whipping up war hysteria.
Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, known for his off-the-cuff remarks, made a sensational claim on Sunday, saying India was planning another military action between April 16-20. The information was based on “reliable intelligence” and that he had the Pakistani Prime Minister’s nod to make the information public.
He alleged that a “new incident could be staged” by India in Kashmir, just like the Pulwama attack, and that “its purpose will be to justify their (India’s) offensive against Pakistan and to increase diplomatic pressure against Islamabad”.
Shortly after Qureshi’s remarks, India released a statement saying the claim was “irresponsible and preposterous”.
“This public gimmick appears to be a call to Pakistan-based terrorists to undertake a terror attack in India,” the statement said.
“It has been made clear to Pakistan that it cannot absolve itself of responsibility of a cross-border terrorist attack in India. No attempt at creating an alibi for its complicity in such attacks will succeed,” it added.
India had carried out an aerial strike across the border in Balakot shortly after the Pulwama terror attack to destroy terror camps there. The attack had escalated into a major military stand-off between India and Pakistan. Wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s release by Pakistan led to de-escalation of the tension.
Significantly, Qureshi’s remark has come at a time when India is gearing up for the general elections. The first phase of the polling will begin from April 11.
If Querishi’s claim were to hold true, then any strike from India’s side would coincide with the poll schedule. Some defence analysts, during debates in some news channels, were of the opinion that Pakistan was trying to take advantage of the situation following the Pulwama attack. Its aim was to make Kashmir an international issue and keep the it alive in the international community.
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