Pakistani army chief issues hollow warnings again, says not to compromise on…
Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir on Thursday issued a fresh hollow warning to India over the Indus Water Treaty, stating that Islamabad will never compromise on the water issue as it is related to the basic rights of the country’s 24 crore people. Apart from this, he accused New Delhi of spreading terrorism. Notably, India broke the Indus Water Treaty with the neighbouring country following the heinous Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists. According to the Pak Army, General Munir made this remark while talking to vice-chancellors, principals, senior teachers and academicians of universities.
‘Pakistan will never accept Indian hegemony.’ Referring to India’s move to suspend the Indus Water Treaty after the Pahalgam terror attack, he said, “We will not allow any compromise on this fundamental right of 24 crore Pakistanis,” he said.
Pak’s Army Chief also said that terrorists and terrorism in Balochistan are supported by New Delhi. Terrorists creating unrest in the province belong to the Baloch people, he said.
India’s Blunt Statement
India reiterated its position that talks with Pakistan are contingent upon Pakistan ceasing cross-border terrorism. This statement followed Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s offer to engage in peace negotiations to address outstanding issues such as Kashmir, terrorism, water rights, and trade.
During MEA’s weekly briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said, “We would like to reiterate that terrorism and dialogue cannot go together.”
External Affairs Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal responded to Sharif’s remarks in Tehran this week, stating that Pakistan wanted peace talks with India.
Jaiswal further said that India will only hold talks with Islamabad on the issue of handing over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to New Delhi and terrorism.
He added that Islamabad should hand over terrorists whose list India had handed over to it a few years ago.
On the Indus Water Treaty, Jaiswal responded, ‘As far as the Indus Water Treaty is concerned, it will remain suspended until Pakistan stops its support to cross-border terrorism and as Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: ‘Terrorism and dialogue cannot go together, terrorism and trade cannot go together, and water and blood cannot flow together.’
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