Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) on Wednesday strongly condemned recent statements by Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, characterising them as “bellicose punchlines” stemming from India’s “sheer frustration” over its failed military campaign against Pakistan last month.
Jaishankar, speaking in Brussels on Tuesday, alluded to India’s supposed right to target Pakistan in reference to ‘Operation Sindoor’, claiming India could strike “anytime, anywhere” in retaliation against perceived terrorist threats. These remarks came on the heels of a brief but intense four-day military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, which ended with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire on May 10.
In response, Pakistan’s FO expressed concern over the Indian minister’s rhetoric, stressing that such language is unbecoming of a senior diplomat and reflects a dangerous shift away from diplomacy towards provocation.
“Top diplomats should be promoting peace, not indulging in aggressive soundbites,” the FO said. “The tone of a foreign minister must reflect dignity and responsibility.”
The FO accused India of fabricating a narrative of victimhood to divert global attention from its own internal crises and alleged human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). It also pointed to India’s “state-sponsored subversion” and “cross-border terrorism” as serious concerns requiring global scrutiny.
“India should reflect on its own record of sponsoring destabilising activities in the region rather than hurling baseless accusations,” the statement read.
Reaffirming its commitment to peaceful coexistence, the FO urged India to halt its aggressive posturing and refrain from inventing pretexts to justify military escalation.
“Pakistan seeks peace but will resolutely defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against any form of aggression,” the FO asserted. “History will remember not who spoke the loudest, but who chose wisdom over belligerence.”
Adding to the rebuke, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman described India as a “belligerent power spinning out of control,” criticising New Delhi for rushing to assign blame for the Pahalgam attack, which resulted in the deaths of 26 tourists. She noted that India has provided no evidence to support its claims against Pakistan and called for a neutral international probe.
“Pakistan cannot be held responsible for every violent incident in India, which is grappling with multiple internal insurgencies,” she said.
In light of the escalating diplomatic tensions, Pakistan has launched an international outreach campaign to present its side of the story. A high-level delegation — including Rehman — is currently in London and is scheduled to visit Brussels, following a recent tour of the United States, to counter what Islamabad calls India’s “unfounded propaganda” in the wake of the Pahalgam incident.
