Glad PM Modi did not declare war on Pak, taunts Congress

New Delhi : Asserting that India’s diplomatic effort to isolate Pakistan in international forums has failed miserably, Congress veteran Mani Shankar Aiyar on Sunday said he was glad that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not wage war against the Asian neighbour.

“I am glad that Prime Minister Modi did not make any statements on declaring war and am equally glad that he did not make any statement to rile the people’s sentiments,” he said.

“We are failing miserably in our diplomatic efforts to isolate Pakistan in international forum,” he added.

Aiyar said that allies like Russia and Iran have shifted their stands and are actively engaging with Pakistan.

“Russian whom we have maintained strong relationship for the past 60 years is joining hands with Pakistan and conducting one of the largest land military exercise in the history of Pakistan,” he said.

“Similarly, Iran, whom we share good relations post Chahbar, is trying to reap benefits by trying to join the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),” he added.

Taunting Modi, Aiyar said it seems that the former has forgotten that he is the Prime Minister of India not Pakistan.

“I don’t think Pakistanis will pay heed to PM Modi and suddenly oust Raheel Sharif, Nawaz Sharif.”

Aiyar stressed that talks is only solution to have friendly relations with Pakistan.

Earlier on Saturday, the Prime Minister launched a scathing attack on Pakistan and said that India would never forget the Uri terror attack and would make all efforts to isolate Islamabad globally.

“A day will come when the people of Pakistan will go against their own government to fight terrorism. India has been successful in isolating you (Pakistan) globally, and we will intensify our efforts to make sure that you are isolated globally. The people of Pakistan should ask their leaders that India and Pakistan got freedom in the same year, but India exports software and your (Pakistan) leaders are exporting terrorists,” said Prime Minister Modi, while addressing a public rally in Kozhikode.

The Prime Minister said he can see a lot of potential to make sure that the 21st century becomes Asia’s 21st century, adding that all the countries in Asia are working for it, except one.

Asserting that terrorism is the enemy of humanity, Prime Minister Modi called upon the international community to join hands to defeat terrorism.

Recalling the sacrifices of the 18 soldiers, who were killed in the Uri terror attack, Prime Minister Modi said India is very proud of the armed forces.

“There have been 17 fidayeen attempts by our neighbour, which our brave soldiers foiled. Leaders of the neighbouring country used to say that they will fight for 1,000 years; where are they now,” he asked.

The Prime Minister further said more than 110 terrorists have been killed in the past few months by the Indian Army as they were trying to infiltrate.

Taking a jibe at Pakistan, Prime Minister Modi said India is exporting engineers all over the world, whereas Islamabad is exporting terrorists.

“I want to tell Pakistan that India is ready to fight you. If you have guts, come forward to fight against poverty. Let’s see who wins? Who is able to defeat poverty and illiteracy first, Pakistan or India” he added.

ANI