Islamabad: India’s retaliatory measures against Pakistan after Pulwama attacks have begun to show results. Today Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan issued a statement asking India to “give peace a chance” after relations between the two nations hit rock bottom.
The statement also reiterated that Pakistan will act immediately if India gives “actionable intelligence” concerning Pulwama attack.
Interestingly, Imran Khan’s statement comes a day after Narendra Modi made a speech in Rajasthan challenging Khan to keep his word if he is a true son of a Pathan.
In the speech, Modi was referring to a conversation he had with Khan earlier in which he told the Pakistani premier, “let us fight against poverty and illiteracy”. Imran Khan accepted Modi’s request and said that he will keep his word because he is the son of a Pathan.
India reacted sharply to Imran Khan’s statement saying that Jaish-e-Mohammad and its leader Masood Azhar are based in Pakistan and said this should be sufficient proof for Pakistan to take action.
Indian External Affairs Ministry also said that Pakistan’s promise of action “rang hollow” given the track record of the country after 26/11 and Pathankot airbase attacks.
After Pulwama attack claimed the lives of 40 CRPF soldiers, India had acted swiftly against Pakistan. India cancelled the ‘Most Favoured Nation’ status given to Pakistan, raised customs duty to a whopping 200% and also decided to stop the water flow of 3 rivers flowing into Pakistan.
These measures were backed by other tough measures such as withdrawing security cover to Hurriyat leaders and putting behind bars many separatist leaders.