Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accused Pakistan of trying to stay relevant through “terrorism” and “proxy war” but such a strategy would never succeed.
Speaking at an event to mark the 25th anniversary of India’s short military conflict with Pakistan in Kargil, in the Himalayas, Modi also said Pakistan had “not learned anything from its history.”
“I want to tell these patrons of terrorism that their unholy plans will never be successful…Our brave (forces) will squash terrorism, the enemy will be given a befitting reply,” he said.
The nuclear-armed South Asian neighbors have uneasy relations and India has, for decades, accused Pakistan of backing Islamist militants fighting its rule in Kashmir, the Himalayan region both claim in full but rule only in part, Reuters reported.
Pakistan has in the past denied such accusations by India, saying it only provides diplomatic and moral support to Kashmiris seeking self-determination in the Muslim-majority region.
The arch rivals have also fought three wars, two of them over Kashmir.
In a statement on Friday, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said it stood resolute in its ability and intent to “safeguard its sovereignty against any aggression”.
“While Pakistan is ready to counter India’s aggressive actions, it remains committed to promoting peace and stability in the region,” the foreign ministry said.
There has been a recent spate of militant attacks in the Hindu-majority Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir – as the territory is formally called – with almost a dozen Indian soldiers killed this year.
Earlier this year, Pakistan said there was credible evidence linking Indian agents to the killing of people on its soil – accusations that India termed “fake”.
Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said last month that India would look for a solution to cross-border terrorism, which “cannot be the policy of a good neighbor”.
