Defense Minister Khawaja Asif launching a tirade against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Modi's political tenure is nearing its end and that the people of India will ultimately decide his fate.
Speaking to media persons in Islamabad on Tuesday, Mr Asif addressed ongoing political and diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan.
Khawaja Asif highlighted the growing criticism of Modi both within and outside the Indian Parliament, stating that Modi attempted to downplay the situation in his recent national address, but the issue at hand had become too complicated to resolve quickly.
“The people of India will decide the future of Modi. His days are numbered,” the minister remarked, further emphasizing that the matter could not be dismissed so easily.
The defense minister also laid out key issues that Pakistan plans to bring to the negotiating table with India. Among these, he identified terrorism as a central topic.
Mr Asif pointed out that Pakistan has been the most affected by terrorism, a situation exacerbated by Indian policies. He referred to Modi's earlier comments on the matter, in which the Indian Prime Minister had offered to investigate terrorism, a move Asif deemed necessary in light of the ongoing regional unrest.
“Terrorism has been a severe issue for Pakistan for over 25 years. The world now recognizes this, and it’s time that India’s role in these issues is critically examined,” Minister Asif said.
He further stressed that Pakistan’s long-standing war against terrorism had not been adequately acknowledged on the international stage, adding that Pakistan had suffered immensely from this global menace.
On the issue of Kashmir, the Defense Minister confirmed that it would remain a central point in discussions between the two nations. He underscored the importance of addressing the longstanding dispute and called for meaningful dialogue to resolve the issue once and for all.
The topic of the Indus Waters Treaty also came under scrutiny, with Asif stating that India had tried to turn the water issue into a point of contention. He made it clear that the treaty should be upheld according to its clauses and cannot be terminated unilaterally by one party.
"The treaty is a legal agreement, and both parties must respect it," he said.
In a more pointed remark, Asif accused India of being an international sponsor of terrorism. He highlighted various instances of Indian-backed terrorism in both Pakistan and other parts of the world, including Canada and the United States, urging that these facts be brought to the forefront in future diplomatic talks.
“We have been fighting on the eastern and western fronts for the past 25 years. The evidence of India's involvement in terrorism is clear and must be exposed,” Asif added.
