Time to test Imran Khan’s ‘I am Pathan’ word: PM Modi takes a jibe over Pulwama attack
TONK (Rajasthan): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday sent out an open challenge to his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan in wake of the brutal Pulwama terror attack earlier this month, asking him to keep his word of fighting terrorism as promised earlier.
The PM expressed angst over the disdainful and apathetic approach taken by the Pakistani government to bring the perpetrators behind the attack to justice, with Khan absolving his country from any involvement while the terror group behind the attack itself is based out of Pakistan.
“I told him there have been plenty of fights between India and Pakistan. Pakistan got nothing. Every time, we won. I told him let us fight against poverty and illiteracy. He told me, ‘Modi ji, I am the son of a Pathan. I speak true and I do true’. Today, the time has come for him to stand true to his words. I will see whether he stands true to his words or not,” he said. Pathans, an ethnic group with roots in Iran, are known for their deep sense of honour and self-respect.
A suicide attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama last week killed over 40 CRPF soldiers. India has blamed Pakistan for supporting those responsible for the attack after Jaish-e-Mohammad, a terrorist group based in the country, claimed responsibility.Pakistan has denied the charge with Imran Khan saying the country will retaliate against any attack or “misadventure” by India.
“When Pakistan got a new Prime Minister, I had congratulated him (Imran Khan). I had told him enough is enough… Pakistan has not got anything with war. We should together fight poverty and illiteracy. He had said to me back then that he was the son of a Pathan and will stand by his words.Today is the time to test if he will indeed stand by his words,” PM Modi said at a rally in Rajasthan’s Tonk. The government of Punjab province in Pakistan on Friday took over the control of a campus comprising Madressatul Sabir and Jama-e-Masjid Subhanallah in Bahawalpur. The campus is the headquarters of the Jaish-e-Mohammed.
The move is being seen as a response to the intense international pressure that is being mounted on Pakistan. It came a day after the United Nations Security Council, including Pakistan’s close ally China, condemned the Pulwama terror attack and mentioned the name of JeM as being responsible for carrying out the terror strike. The Council denounced the attack in the “strongest terms” and called it “heinous and cowardly”.
Pakistan PM Imran Khan on February 19 denied his country’s hand in orchestrating the February 14 Pulwama attack that resulted in the death of 40 CRPF jawans, arguing that it was ‘not in Pakistan’s interest’. Delivering an address on Radio Pakistan — his first comment on the matter since the attack — Khan promised that his government will extend full support if India provides ‘actionable intelligence’ on the Pulwama terror attack.
“My statement is for the Indian government. You (Indian govt) have blamed the Pakistan government without any evidence. If Pakistan was planning the visit of Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, what does it stand to gain out of this? Pakistan ko isse kya faayda hai? Kyu Pakistan karega iss stage ke upar jab Pakistan stability ki taraf ja raha hai?,” he said, adding, “It is in our interest that nobody from our soil spreads violence. I want to tell the Indian government that we will take action if evidence is found against anyone from Pakistan.”
(With Agency Inputs ).
