• Islamabad says its desire for peace should not be 'misconstrued'
• By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) - Islamabad on Saturday condemned Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh’s statement about India's "clandestine operations" within Pakistan, calling it "provocative remarks."

In a statement, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said that such "myopic and irresponsible behaviour" not only undermines regional peace but also impedes the prospects of constructive engagement in the long term.

"Pakistan stands resolute in its intent and ability to safeguard its sovereignty against any act of aggression, as demonstrated by its robust response to India's reckless incursion in February 2019, which laid bare India's hollow claims of military superiority," said the ministry.

A day earlier, Singh warned that India would enter Pakistan if anyone fled there after committing terror acts in his country.

“If they (terrorists) run away to Pakistan, we will enter Pakistan to kill them," the local Indian daily The Hindu quoted Singh as saying.

During his interview with a local broadcaster CNN News18, Singh did not deny or dismiss the daily Guardian's Thursday report which said India had killed around 20 people in Pakistan since 2020.

Responding to the Guardian's report, Islamabad said they already provided irrefutable evidence of Indian involvement in "extrajudicial and transnational assassinations" in Pakistan.

"India's assertion of its preparedness to extra-judicially execute more civilians, arbitrarily pronounced as 'terrorists,' inside Pakistan constitutes a clear admission of culpability," the Pakistani Foreign Ministry noted, adding: "It is imperative for the international community to hold India accountable for its heinous and illegal actions."

Islamabad also reiterated its commitment to peace in the region, saying Pakistan's desire for peace should not be misinterpreted.

"History attests to Pakistan's firm resolve and ability to protect and defend itself," it added.

The ministry further noted that India has been using a discourse for electoral gains as its six-week phased elections are set to start on April 19.

"India's ruling dispensation habitually resorts to hateful rhetoric to fuel hyper-nationalistic sentiments, unapologetically exploiting such discourse for electoral gains," it said.