Rewari: Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday went hammer and tongs at Pakistan, equating that country to hell. A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi openly came out in support of "freedom" for Balochistan and 'Pakistan-occupied Kashmir', Parrikar said, "On Monday, our soldiers sent back five terrorists. Going to Pakistan is the same as going to hell."
The Army on Monday foiled a major infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector of Kashmir and killed 5 terrorists.
Parrikar, who was in Haryana's Rewari to participate in 'Jara Yaad Karo Qurbaani' programme said, "Pakistan has always been promoting terrorism. Now sometimes, even it is bearing the consequences of terrorism."
Parrikar’s remarks came in after reports stated that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is likely to skip the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit, which will be held in Islamabad next week.
Parrikar also said that if anybody decides to attack India, we will not remain silent. He said that Indian soldiers will give a befitting reply to every attack. The minister asserted that Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) is part of India and the violation of human rights should stop in Balochistan.
Modi, during his address on 70th Independence Day on Monday, said, "People of Balochistan, Gilgit and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) have thanked him a lot in the past few days and he is grateful to them."
"Today I want to specially honour and thank to some people from the ramparts of Red Fort. For the past few days the people of Baluchistan, the people of Gilgit, the people of Pakistan occupied Kashmir, the way their citizens have heartily thanked me, the way they have acknowledged me, the goodwill they have shown towards me, the people settled far across, the land which I have not seen, the people I have not met ever, but people settled at far across acknowledge the Prime Minister of India, they honour him, so it is an honour of my 125 crores countrymen, it is respect of my 125 crores countrymen and that is why owing to the feeling of this honour, I want to heartily thank the people of Baluchistan, the people of Gilgit, the people of Pakistan occupied Kashmir for having an expression of thankfulness," he added.
According to a news report, government sources on Tuesday indicated that Jaitley will not be attending the SAARC meet, despite reports from Pakistan that he would be accorded a "warm welcome" if he participates in the ministerial conference. However, a final call on the matter will be taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Until Monday, sources in New Delhi said it was far from certain whether Jaitley would travel to Islamabad for the meeting to be hosted on August 25 and 26.
Earlier, Pakistan's Finance Ministry said that Islamabad will play a "good host" and avoid a repetition of the tense atmosphere that prevailed during Home Minister Rajnath Singh's recent visit.
