Stating that in current times, any financial assistance to Pakistan is no less than terror funding, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should reconsider its financial assistance of USD 1 billion to the neighbouring country.
Confirming the use of BrahMos supersonic missiles in Operation Sindoor, he said the weapon showed Pakistan the “light of day in the darkness of night”.
Addressing the military personnel at the Air Force Station in Bhuj of Kutch district, the Defence Minister made it clear that the operation is not yet over and Pakistan has been kept on probation. “In the current ceasefire, we have kept Pakistan on probation on the basis of its behaviour. If the behaviour improves then it is okay, but if it worsens again, it will be handed out the strictest punishment,” he added.
“Our actions were just a trailer; we will show the full picture, if need be,” he added.
On IMF funding, Singh said, “I believe that a big chunk of USD 1 billion coming from IMF will certainly be utilised to fund terror infrastructure. Can this (funding from) IMF, which is an international organisation, not be considered an indirect funding? I want to put this question before the people of the world.”
He further said, “I believe that in current times, any assistance to Pakistan is no less than terror funding. India would want the IMF to reconsider its assistance of USD 1 billion to Pakistan; and abstain from giving any assistance in future as well. India does not want the funding we do to IMF to be used, directly or indirectly, in creating terror infrastructure in Pakistan or in any other country.”
The Defence Minister said that it is now clear that in Pakistan, terrorism and its government are hand in glove.
Story continues below this ad
“The gap between the state and non-state actors has been removed totally now. In this condition, if atomic or nuclear weapons stay there, the possibility of it falling in the hands of terror elements cannot be ruled out in future. It will be a matter of danger not only for India, but the entire world and even the people of Pakistan. The whole world and especially people of Pakistan have to understand that they are sitting at the edge of such a big danger,” Singh added.
Sounding a warning to Pakistan military, Singh invoked an Urdu couplet by poet Bashir Badr and said, “Kagaz ka hai libaas, chiragon ka shaher hain; chalna sambhal sambhal ke kyunki tum nashe me ho… (You are wearing a garment made of paper in a city of lamps. Be careful as you walk, since you are intoxicated).”
Singh said that after India’s effective Operation Sindoor against terror infrastructure in Pakistan, the neighbouring country has once again started efforts to ensure that the terror infrastructure is rebuilt by financing terrorist organisations like Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba etc.
During his speech to the military personnel, the Defence Minister also lauded the role played by members of the Indian Air Force and said that it is being talked about not only in our country, but other countries of the world as well.
Story continues below this ad
“Today, the situation is such that the fighter planes of India are capable of striking a blow without crossing the border. And the world has seen how you have demolished nine terror camps on Pakistani soil. And in the subsequent action, many of their air bases have also been devastated,” Singh said.
He also lauded the performance of India’s Air Defence System (Akash and other radar systems developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation) during the Operation Sindoor. Singh said, “At many places, our citizens were not running away seeing the enemy drones; instead, they were capturing video of them being shot down by our air defence system.”
(With PTI inputs)