In a recent podcast interview with American podcaster Lex Fridman, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly criticized Pakistan, accusing it of sponsoring cross-border terrorism and rejecting India’s peace overtures. Modi stated that New Delhi’s repeated attempts to foster diplomatic ties were met with “hostility and betrayal.”
“When I invited my Pakistani counterpart to my swearing-in, it was a gesture of goodwill,” Modi said, referring to Nawaz Sharif’s attendance at his 2014 inauguration. “Yet, every noble attempt at fostering peace was met with hostility and betrayal.”
Modi also highlighted his surprise visit to Lahore in 2015 on Sharif’s birthday as another diplomatic effort that failed to yield positive results. He argued that even the people of Pakistan were weary of conflict and longed for peace. “They must have grown weary of relentless terror, where even innocent children are killed and countless lives are destroyed,” he remarked.
Modi Links Pakistan to Global Terrorism
The Indian premier went further, linking Pakistan to international terrorist activities, citing Osama bin Laden’s presence in Abbottabad as an example. “Let’s take the September 11 attacks, for example. The main mastermind behind it, Osama bin Laden, where did he eventually emerge from? He had taken refuge in Pakistan,” Modi stated.
He claimed that Pakistan had become a global epicenter of instability, asserting, “Wherever terror strikes in the world, the trail somehow leads to Pakistan.” Modi called on Pakistan to abandon state-sponsored terrorism and choose the path of peace. He also referenced India’s longstanding demand that Pakistan curb cross-border terrorism before any meaningful dialogue can take place.
Modi’s remarks align with broader Indian allegations against Pakistan regarding terrorism, particularly in the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir. Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi recently claimed that “60 percent of the terrorists eliminated” in Kashmir in 2024 were of Pakistani origin. He further alleged that “80 percent of the remaining fighters in IoK were of Pakistani origin.”
Pakistan Rejects Modi’s “Misleading” Claims
Pakistan’s Foreign Office swiftly rejected Modi’s remarks, calling them “misleading and one-sided.” In a strongly worded statement, Islamabad accused India of omitting key issues, including the unresolved Kashmir dispute, which has been a flashpoint between the two nations for over seven decades.
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“The remarks conveniently omit the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, which remains unresolved despite India’s solemn assurances to the United Nations, Pakistan, and the Kashmiri people,” the statement read. The FO further accused India of using a “fictitious narrative of victimhood” to conceal its own alleged involvement in fomenting terrorism on Pakistani soil.
Pakistan also criticized India for what it called “state-sanctioned oppression” in Indian-occupied Kashmir and warned that India’s “rigid approach and hegemonic ambitions” were obstacles to peace in South Asia. “Instead of blaming others, India should reflect on its own record of orchestrating targeted assassinations, subversion, and terrorism in foreign territories,” the FO asserted.
Escalating Tensions and Allegations
The tensions between India and Pakistan have been exacerbated by recent incidents, including the Jaffar Express train attack in Balochistan. The Pakistan military’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) claimed that Indian media ran a “disinformation campaign” surrounding the incident, misleading the global audience. ISPR spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry alleged that “India was the main sponsor of terrorism” in Balochistan and that the attack was “a continuation of the same policy.”
Pakistan’s concerns about Indian covert operations have been echoed by international reports. A December 2024 investigation by The Washington Post exposed an assassination campaign allegedly orchestrated by India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). According to the report, RAW had been conducting targeted killings on Pakistani soil since 2021, mirroring similar operations in North America. The report also implicated India in extra-territorial killings, including those of individuals considered threats to its national interests.
Future of India-Pakistan Relations
While both India and Pakistan accuse each other of supporting terrorism, diplomatic ties remain at a standstill. Islamabad maintains that it is open to “constructive engagement” but blames India’s “anti-Pakistan narrative” for impeding peace efforts. Meanwhile, India insists that meaningful dialogue can only occur if Pakistan dismantles its alleged terror networks.
As the two nuclear-armed neighbors continue their war of words, regional stability remains precarious. Whether diplomacy can overcome deep-rooted mistrust remains uncertain.