ISLAMABAD – The Foreign Office (FO) on Wednesday strongly condemned remarks by Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who suggested India had the "right to strike Pakistan." The FO described the comments as “bellicose punchlines,” calling them a sign of India’s “sheer frustration” following a failed military operation last month.
Jaishankar made the remarks in Brussels, referencing ‘Operation Sindoor’ and asserting that India reserves the right to target terrorists “anytime, anywhere.” His statement followed a four-day military confrontation between India and Pakistan, which ended with a US-brokered ceasefire on May 10.
In response, the FO stated, “India’s aggressive rhetoric reflects an unsuccessful military adventure and a continued obsession with Pakistan.” It emphasized that senior diplomats should seek to promote peace, not fuel hostilities with inflammatory language. “The tone and tenor of a foreign minister should match his dignified status,” the FO added.
The FO accused India of conducting a “malicious campaign” to mislead the world through a false narrative of victimhood, while ignoring its own record of “terrorism, subversion, and state-sponsored oppression,” particularly in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
“India’s baseless blame game cannot mask its own actions across borders,” the statement read, urging New Delhi to focus on introspection rather than provocation.
Reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to peace, the FO stressed that any aggression would be met with full resolve. “Pakistan desires peaceful coexistence but will firmly defend its sovereignty,” it warned.
A day earlier, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman also condemned Jaishankar’s remarks, calling India a “belligerent power spinning out of control.” She said India had offered no proof linking Pakistan to the recent Pahalgam attack in Kashmir, which left 26 tourists dead. “Pakistan cannot be held responsible for every act of violence in a country with multiple insurgencies,” she added.
Following the conflict, Pakistan has launched a global outreach campaign to counter India’s accusations and present its stance to the international community, with delegations visiting the US, UK, and Europe.
