ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday categorically rejected Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s terrorism-related allegations against Pakistan as completely baseless.

The Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement that Pakistan had shared incontrovertible evidence with the international community of India’s state sponsorship of terrorism and subversion against Pakistan.

“India uses terrorism as an instrument of state policy. This year alone, India has been involved in terrorist attacks in Johar Town, Lahore and against Chinese and Pakistani workers at Dasu,” he said.

The spokesperson said the ruling BJP-RSS combine had a clear anti-Muslim and anti-minority agenda. They target Pakistan with false propaganda campaigns for both ideological reasons and political expediency.

He recalled that India’s so-called surgical strikes and ill-conceived misadventure in Balakot in February 2019 were exposed as based on nothing but lies and deceit.

Pakistan restored the strategic balance in the region by retaliating against India in a measured and firm manner, he said.

The spokesperson said that understanding of reaffirming of 2003 ceasefire in February 2021 only demonstrated that Pakistan was a responsible state that wanted to maintain peace in the region despite irresponsible Indian behaviour.

“Our desire for peace notwithstanding, Pakistan will resolutely defend itself against any aggressive Indian designs,” he resolved.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2021