‘Provocative and irresponsible’ states India; Slams Imran Khan for his open call for jihad speech at UNGA

New Delhi, October 4: Evoking the United Nations General Assembly meeting (UNGA), the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday slammed Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan saying that his open call for jihad upon his return from the UNGA in the United States was ‘not normal behaviour’ and ‘unbecoming of the office he holds.’

Hitting out at the Pakistan prime minister, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that the country was not behaving as a neighbour should. ‘It [jihad call] was unbecoming of the office he holds. Pakistan not behaving as a neighbour should. This open call for jihad is not normal behaviour,’ he said. India slammed Pakistan after Imran Khan on his return from US said that those standing by Kashmiris were doing "jihad" and Pakistan will support Kashmiris even if the world does not. Addressing media, Imran Khan said, "It (supporting Kashmiris) is jihad. We are doing it because we want Allah to be happy with us."

Adding further, MEA slashed Imran Khan for asking people to head towards the Line of Control (LoC), the MEA spokesperson said that the Pakistani prime minister used ‘provocative and irresponsible’ statements at the UNGA as well. He said, “Imran Khan used provocative and irresponsible statements in UNGA too. I think he does not know how to conduct international relationships. The most serious thing is he gave an open call for jihad against India which is not normal.”

On Turkey’s statement on Kashmir, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the Indian government does not regret Turkey's statements on Kashmir at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Asserting that Kashmir is an internal matter to India, the ministry said that Turkey should get a briefing of facts before it makes any further statements on the subject.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had raised the Kashmir issue during his address at the UNGA, saying it is imperative to solve the problem through "dialogue on the basis of justice, equity, and not through collision." Erdogan also said the stability and prosperity of South Asia cannot be separated from the Kashmir issue. But same was not in the case of Malaysia, the MEA stated, “Deeply regret the comments made by the Malaysian prime minister. They are not based on facts which were highlighted by PM and EAM. The state of J&K signed the instrument of accession. It was Pakistan which invaded and illegal occupied parts of Kashmir. The recent developments in Kashmir are completely internal matter.”

Mentioning the developments slated on Kartarpur Corridor, the MEA spokesperson stated that four lane highway has been completed. But India is still waiting for a reply from Pakistan side on fee and numbers of pilgrims.