After Modi corners Pak on terror, its media warns Sharif of ‘global isolation’

'Worry a great deal about Pakistan's image abroad. Some of our actions as a country are indefensible,' an editorial said.

New Delhi: A Pakistani newspaper close to the government and military establishment on Tuesday warned the Nawaz Sharif government that international isolation seems to be ‘looming over the country’.

A hard-hitting editorial in The Nation, the second in a week, said that the government needs to indiscriminately crack down on all non-state terror actors, and back its words with action. It cited the fact that even China, a close ally of Pakistan, had expressed concern about the inaction against terrorists, to emphasise that action must be taken against terrorists.

"Modi's statement shows just how committed New Delhi is when it comes to isolating Pakistan globally. From canceling the SAARC summit to boycotting Pakistani artistes, the Modi regime is hell-bent on weakening Pakistan at every international forum... When and if isolated, the impact would be drastic, and Pakistan would never want that," said the editorial.

The newspaper directly attacked the Pakistani government and security agencies, calling them on to ‘have the decency to admit that Pakistan still isn't 100 per cent sure which non-state actor is good or bad.’

Citing the example of a ruling party lawmaker who demanded action against non-state actors, the editorial asked Pakistan to clearly define its policies, and act on them.

“Pakistan has to realise that what really is in its national interest is the complete elimination of nefarious elements, without any discrimination,” the editorial said.

It also slammed the government for taking action against a journalist, Cyril Almeida, who reported that the civilian Pakistani government clashed with the military over the latter impeding efforts to crack down on terror. Pakistan placed Almeida on its Exit Control List after repeatedly rubbishing his story, which he claims had been cross-checked thrice.

Labeling the Pakistani establishment ‘immature’, the editorial ridiculed talk of ‘national security’. It stated that Almeida’s story was never a ‘threat to national security’ as claimed by security agencies.

The editorial also questioned why taking action against Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar brought the country’s security under threat.

"Worry a great deal about Pakistan's image abroad - some of our actions and inactions as a country are indefensible - everyone knows it, no matter how much we may pretend otherwise," The Nation's editorial said.