ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office has deplored Indian Prime Minister Na­­r­e­ndra Modi’s statement in Bang­la­desh in which he took pride in India’s role in the break-up of Pakistan.

Mr Modi also accused Islamabad of creating nuisance and stirring trouble in India.

FO spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said in a statement on Tuesday that Indian premier’s comments “only confirmed Pakistan’s stance on India’s negative role against a sovereign neighbouring state”.

The FO spokesman urged the international community to take notice of India’s admission to interfering in former East Pakistan.

Mr Modi, while receiving the ‘liberation war honour’ on behalf of former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee during a visit to Bangladesh, said that he had been one of the activists who reached Delhi in response to Vajpayee’s call for “Satyagraha” for the “liberation of Bangladesh in 1971” and that like millions of other Indians he wanted this vision (separation of East Pakistan) realised.

Spokesman Khalilullah said: “It was regrettable that the Indian politicians not only indulge in actions that are in violation of the United Nations Charter but also take pride in recalling their interference in internal affairs of other states.”

In another speech delivered at Dhaka University, the Indian premier said: “Pakistan constantly disturbs India, creates nuisance, promotes terrorism and such incidents keep recurring.”

Pakistan-India ties have been on a downward slide since Mr Modi came into power last year.

Mr Modi’s tirade against Pakistan is the latest in an increasingly spiteful exchange of accusations between the two countries.

Pakistan Army had last month accused Indian intelligence agency of “whipping up terrorism” in the country. The allegation was followed by Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s “terrorists have to be neutralised only through terrorists” remark.

The spokesman described Mr Modi’s “characterisation of bilateral ties” as “unfortunate”.

Pakistan, he said, “believes in peaceful co-existence and maintaining good neighbourly relations with India”.

Pakistan-Bangladesh ties that have already been soured because of the execution of opposition leaders, whom Dhaka had accused of “war crimes” during the 1971 separation from Pakistan are likely to further deteriorate because of Modi’s remarks that could re-open the old wounds.

The FO spokesman, however, hoped that Indian attempts to “sow seeds of discord” between Pakistan and Bangladesh would not succeed.

He said the people of Pakistan and Bangladesh are connected not only by strong bonds of religious affinity but also by the history of their struggle for independence against colonial rule.

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2015

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