Reaffirms India's Hardline Policy of Pursuing Militants in Safe Havens
In a stern warning, India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has declared that the country will not hesitate to enter Pakistan to kill any terrorists who try to escape there after conducting attacks in India.
Singh's tough remarks came during an interview with CNN News18 on Friday, following a report in Britain's The Guardian newspaper alleging that India has already eliminated around 20 people in Pakistan since 2020 as part of a secret program targeting militants living abroad.
When asked about the report, the Defense Minister stated in clear terms, "If they (terrorists) run away to Pakistan, we will enter Pakistan to kill them."
He emphasized India's resolve to crack down on terror, saying, "India always wants good relations with neighboring countries. But if anyone shows an angry stance towards India repeatedly, comes here and tries terrorist activities, we will not spare them."
Both India's foreign ministry and Pakistan's foreign office did not officially comment on The Guardian's claims when contacted.
However, Singh's blunt statements reaffirm India's hardline policy of pursuing terrorists beyond its borders if required, amid long-standing tensions with Pakistan over cross-border militancy.
Experts warn such unilateral military actions could increase conflicts between the nuclear-armed neighbors if not handled cautiously through official diplomatic channels.
The Indian government has previously accused Pakistan of providing safe havens for anti-India terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, though Islamabad denies these allegations.
With the latest combative statements from India's defense minister, the threat of escalating violence looms if the two nations fail to resolve underlying issues through dialogue.
