New Delhi: Taking a tough stand on Kashmir, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Saturday, hit out at Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for calling slain Hizbul Mujahidden Burhan Wani a 'martyr'.
“Pakistan PM called Burhan Wani a 'martyr'. Doesn't he know that Burhan Wani was a commander of terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen,” Swaraj exhorted.
Sushma who was flanked by Ministers of State MJ Akbar and (retired) General VK Singh launched a blistering attack on the Pakistani establishment. The Union Minister said, "Behind Pakistan's unabashed embrace and encouragement to terrorism lies its delusional though dangerous dream that 'Kashmir will one day become Pakistan', as Prime Minister Sharif said on Friday. The whole of India would like to tell Prime Minister of Pakistan that this dream will not be realised even at the end of eternity. The whole of Jammu and Kashmir belongs to India. You will never be able to make this heaven on earth a haven for terrorists."
Swaraj slammed Sharif' for saying that they are waiting for the day (when) Kashmir becomes (a part of) Pakistan. She said, “Jammu and Kashmir is a integral part of India and Pakistan will never be able to make it a terror-hell for Kashmiris.”
The senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader accused Pakistan of fuelling violence in Kashmir.
“It (Pakistan) has given pain of terrorism there (Kashmir), but its designs will never succeed” Swaraj said.Swaraj said.
Tearing into Pakistan's ulterior motive to destabilise the Valley through state-sponsored terrorism, the Union Minister maintained, "Pakistan's PM says that his good wishes are with the people of Kashmir. Sadly, it's not Pakistan's good wishes or moral or diplomatic support but its weapons and terrorism that it has exported to Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan's dirty money, dangerous terrorists and duplicitous state institutions seek to destabilise the region. The statement of none other than the Prime Minister of Pakistan has betrayed this despicable design. But I would like to repeat that this dream of Pakistan will never be fulfilled."
India's strong response comes after Sharif, while addressing a public gathering on the occasion of his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz`s win in the "Azad Jammu and Kashmir" assembly election said, "We are waiting for the day (when) Kashmir becomes (a part of) Pakistan."
Sharif urged the Kashmiris "not to forget those in (Indian) held Kashmir who are sacrificing their lives for freedom".
New Delhi accuses Islamabad of arming and training militants fighting to secede Jammu and Kashmir from India. Pakistan says it only provides moral and diplomatic backing to the separatist campaign.
