India Criticizes Pakistan for Spreading Falsehoods, Demands Withdrawal from Occupied Territory

On Tuesday, India severely criticized Pakistan for "spreading lies" regarding Kashmir, asking the country to "vacate" the Indian land that it occupies by what India believes is illegal and forcible occupation.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned Pakistan for persistently propagating cross-border terrorism, which it termed as the greatest barrier to peace and security in the region.

MEA spokesman Randhir Jaiswal countered media inquiries in response to a statement made by the Pakistan Foreign Office, which had denounced recent remarks made by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on terrorism in Pakistan as "one-sided and misleading." Jaiswal clarified, "The world knows very well that the true issue at hand is the active support and encouragement of cross-border terrorism on part of Pakistan. Rather than going about circulating canards, Pakistan should quit Indian territory it illegally and forcefully occupies."

The remarks came following the recent interview by Prime Minister Modi to US-based podcaster Lex Fridman, where he has underlined Pakistan as the terrorism hub of the world, causing colossal pain not only to India but to the entire world.

PM Modi emphasized that, "Wherever terror occurs in the world, the trail somehow points to Pakistan. Let's consider the September 11 attacks, for instance. The prime mastermind of it, Osama bin Laden, ultimately came out of Pakistan. The world has understood that terrorism and the terrorist mentality are deeply entrenched in Pakistan. Today, it is an epicenter of terror, not only for India but for the world."

The Prime Minister also appealed to Pakistan to leave its terrorism-based approach for the welfare of its people and said, "We kept on asking them what benefit could they derive from this path. We have asked them to leave the path of state-sponsored terrorism forever. What do you expect to achieve by giving your country over to forces beyond the law?"

Looking back on his earlier peace efforts with Pakistan, Modi detailed his overtures, including visiting Lahore and extending an invitation to Pakistan's leaders to come for his swearing-in ceremony. He was dismayed that these "noble efforts" for peace were received in hostility and betrayal. "When I became PM, I invited Pakistan specially to my swearing-in ceremony so that we could start afresh.". However, each great effort at establishing peace was responded to with hostility and betrayal. We hope that wisdom will overcome them and they take the path of peace," he added.