Sushma Swaraj slams Nawaz Sharif for ‘delusional’ J&K dream

Aggressive external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj did on Saturday some straight-talking on Pakistan’s role in Kashmir, and how.

Clearly indicating a change in the rules of engagement with Pakistan which has hit a new low, Ms Swaraj read out a statement to the media which was later posted in her ministry’s website: “The whole of Jammu and Kashmir belongs to India. You will never be able to make this heaven on earth a haven for terrorists”.

The minister’s comments are the strongest yet condemnation of Pakistan’s encouragement to the forces of terror for the latest spiral of ongoing violence in the Kashmir Valley, Ms Swaraj’s statement is seen as a reaction to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s comment on Friday that the day was not far when the struggle of the Kashmiris will meet with success and Jammu and Kashmir will be part of Pakistan.

Calling Pakistan’s “dangerous dream” that “Kashmir will one day become Pakistan’ a “delusion”, Ms Swaraj said: “The whole of India would like to tell Prime Minister of Pakistan that this dream will not be realised even at the end of eternity. The whole of Jammu and Kashmir belongs to India. You will never be able to make this heaven on earth a haven for terrorists”.

Accusing the Pakistan government of being in cahoots with terrorists, the minister said: “Even more condemnable than these deplorable attempts from across our border to incite violence and glorify terrorists is the fact that these attempts have been undertaken by Pakistan’s state machinery in active partnership with UN-designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed and other leading terrorists belonging to internationally proscribed organisations”.

The Kashmir Valley has been hit by relentless violence against security forces after the killing of Burhan Wani, a Hizbul Mujahideen commander with a poster-boy image, on July 8, sparking off massive protests. At least 45 people have lost their lives till date with at least 3,400 including 1,700 security forces personnel injured.

“He (Wani) was carrying an award of Rs 10 lakh on his head because he had perpetrated heinous crimes including murder of elected representatives of local bodies and security forces/personnel,” Ms Swaraj said.

Praising the restraint of security forces in trying to control the violence, Swaraj said it is self-evident in the unusually high number of more than 1700 injured personnel. “The country (Pakistan) which has used fighter planes and artillery against millions of its own people has no right whatsoever to point a finger against our brave, professional and disciplined police and other security forces”.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is already on a two-day visit to Kashmir to understand the ground situation better.