Pakistan condemns Indian minister's provocative statement

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan condemned recent statements made by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during election rallies in Haryana, terming them 'provocative and highly irresponsible'.

"Statements from a senior Minister in the Indian government provide another insight into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) mindset — a mix of extremist ideology, hegemonic ambitions, and obsession with Pakistan," read a statement issued by the Foreign Office spokesperson on Tuesday.

"It is highly irresponsible of the Indian defence minister to be threatening the splitting of a sovereign country. We are sure that the world community would take cognizance. For his part, Mr Rajnath Singh should have no doubt that the security forces and people of Pakistan remain ready to resolutely defend the country against any evil design," it added.

While addressing a public rally in Haryana on Sunday, the minister insinuated India is ready to assist Pakistan to 'combat terror on its soil'.

"You divided India into two pieces as part of the two-nation theory in 1947. But in 1971, your country was divided into two pieces again. And if the situation persists, then no power can stop Pakistan from being broken up further," the Indian minister bragged while addressing a rally.

The Foreign Office rejected Singh's 'gratuitous' comments on help in counter-terrorism, adding that India would help itself by ceasing forthwith the state-terrorism it has been perpetrating for decades against the Kashmiri people in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

"India must also cease its sponsorship of terrorism against Pakistan," said the statement.

"As we have stressed before, the BJP should contest elections on the basis of its own performance, rather than dragging Pakistan into the domestic political foray for electoral gains," the FO statement reiterated.