ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office (FO) today strongly rejected and condemned what it described as highly inflammatory, baseless and irresponsible remarks made by Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar regarding Pakistan’s armed forces. The FO termed his comments misleading and an attempt to distort facts at a sensitive time for regional stability.
Jaishankar, while addressing media a day earlier, claimed that India’s core challenges with Pakistan were rooted in the structure and role of Pakistan’s military establishment. His comments quickly drew criticism in Islamabad, where officials viewed them as another attempt by New Delhi to malign Pakistan for domestic and geopolitical gains.
Responding to the remarks, the FO emphasised that Pakistan is a responsible state whose institutions, including its armed forces, remain dedicated to safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The statement added that all branches of the Pakistani military operate as pillars of national security, committed to ensuring peace and defending the country against any form of aggression.
The FO also referenced the brief four-day conflict between India and Pakistan earlier in May, highlighting how the episode clearly demonstrated the professionalism, preparedness and resolve of Pakistan’s armed forces. The statement noted that the military responded to Indian actions in a manner that was both effective and responsible, reflecting Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace despite provocations. According to the FO, no amount of propaganda from India can overshadow these facts.
Officials in Islamabad accused the Indian leadership of running a sustained propaganda campaign aimed at defaming Pakistan’s state institutions. They argued that New Delhi’s strategy is designed to divert attention from India’s own destabilising activities in the region, as well as what they describe as state-sponsored terrorism on Pakistani soil. This approach, the FO said, reveals the extent to which India disregards peace and stability in South Asia.
The statement further criticised what it called the rise of fascist and revisionist Hindutva ideology within India, which it claimed has led to mob violence, lynchings, arbitrary detentions and the demolition of religious sites. According to the FO, both the Indian state and its leadership have become hostage to this extremist trend.
Concluding its response, Pakistan reiterated that it believes in coexistence, dialogue and diplomacy as tools for stable regional relations. However, the FO affirmed that the nation remains united and fully capable of protecting its sovereignty and national interests amid any external pressure or misinformation campaign.
