Modi Asserts Stance on Pakistan's Proxy War Strategy

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Pakistan of relying on terrorism and proxy war but stated such tactics would not succeed. Modi's comments came during an event marking the 25th anniversary of the Kargil conflict. Pakistan denied the accusations, asserting its commitment to peace while being prepared to counter aggression.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that Pakistan was trying to stay relevant through "terrorism" and "proxy war" but such a strategy would never succeed.

The nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours have uneasy relations, with India accusing Pakistan for decades of backing Islamist militants fighting its rule in Kashmir, a disputed Himalayan region. Modi spoke at an event to mark the 25th anniversary of India's short military conflict with Pakistan in Kargil. The arch rivals have fought three wars, two of them over Kashmir.

Modi said Pakistan had been unsuccessful whenever it tried to further its plans, but had "not learned anything from its history". "I want to tell these patrons of terrorism that their unholy plans will never be successful...Our brave forces will squash terrorism, and the enemy will be given a befitting reply," he said.

Pakistan has previously denied such accusations by India, saying it only provides diplomatic and moral support to Kashmiris seeking self-determination in the Muslim-majority region. In a statement later on Friday, Pakistan's foreign ministry said it stood resolute in its ability and intent to "safeguard its sovereignty against any aggression".

"While Pakistan is ready to counter India's aggressive actions, it remains committed to promoting peace and stability in the region," the foreign ministry said. A recent spate of militant attacks in the Hindu-majority Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir has left nearly a dozen Indian soldiers dead this year.

Indian-Pakistani relations have been largely frozen since downgrading diplomatic ties in August 2019, after New Delhi revoked Kashmir's special status and split it into two union territories. Relations worsened further after a suicide bombing of an Indian military convoy in Kashmir was traced to Pakistan-based militants, prompting India to carry out an airstrike on a militant base in Pakistan.

Earlier this year, Pakistan claimed there was credible evidence linking Indian agents to killings on its soil—accusations dismissed by India as "fake". Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stated last month that India would seek a solution to cross-border terrorism, which "cannot be the policy of a good neighbour".

(With inputs from agencies.)