The recent remarks made by the Indian Army Chief, insinuating that Pakistan is the epicenter of terrorism, are not only factually incorrect but also reflect a futile attempt to distract the world from India’s own acts of brutality. These statements are a classic example of India’s deflection tactic, blaming Pakistan for the indigenous reaction to its state-sponsored brutality.
This rhetoric is not a new one. It is an ongoing effort to mask India’s human rights violations, particularly in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK), where the Indian Army Chief himself played a key role in overseeing some of the most brutal crackdowns on Kashmiris. The international community has not been oblivious to the repression faced by minorities within India and the country’s transnational acts of violence.
India’s hate-speech conclaves, which propagate genocide against Muslims, have only intensified the global awareness of the oppressive tactics used by India’s security forces. These actions against unarmed Kashmiris have resulted in the strengthening of their resolve for the right to self-determination, a right supported by UN Security Council Resolutions.
Rather than fabricating a non-existent terror network in Pakistan, India would be better served by acknowledging the harsh reality. The fact that a senior serving Indian military officer was caught in Pakistan while orchestrating acts of terror against civilians seems to have conveniently been ignored by the Indian Army Chief.
Pakistan firmly rejects these baseless accusations. Instead of indulging in political rhetoric, it is hoped that India’s military leadership would focus on professionalism and the norms of state-to-state conduct, rather than using military forums for political gain.
