Indian, Pakistani officials continue to trade barbs over terrorism sponsoring

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI (AA) – Officials from the two South Asian nuclear neighbors continued to trade barbs, with the latest coming from New Delhi in response to Pakistani foreign minister's characterization of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the "butcher of Gujarat" in reference to the 2002 communal unrest in the western coastal state.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responded to the statement of Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari with a statement that stated, “The ‘uncivilized’ outburst seems to be a result of Pakistan’s increasing inability to use terrorists and their proxies.”

"The language used by the Foreign Minister of Pakistan shows that not only does he represent a bankrupt country, he is also mentally bankrupt," Indian NDTV reported, quoting Indian Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi.

Earlier on Thursday, Bilawal aggressively responded at a press conference in New York to a fresh statement of Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in which he accused Pakistan of perpetuating terrorism and sheltering Osama bin Laden, according to Pakistani Geo TV channel.

The Indian government does not believe in Gandhi's ideology, but rather in the doctrines of his assassin, the foreign minister alleged, adding that the Indian government is influenced by Hitler.

"I would like to remind Mr. Jaishankar that Osama bin Laden is dead, but the 'butcher of Gujarat lives', and he is the prime minister (of India)," Zardari remarked.

The riots in Gujarat occurred during Modi's tenure as chief minister. He was accused of starting the communal violence that spread through the state, specifically targeting the minority Muslim community. More than 1,000 people were killed in the 2002 riots.

"These comments are a new low, even for Pakistan," according to the MEA statement, adding that "the Foreign Minister of Pakistan has obviously forgotten this day in 1971, which was a direct result of the genocide unleashed by Pakistani rulers against ethnic Bengalis and Hindus.”

“Pakistan is a country that glorifies Osama bin Laden as a martyr, and shelters terrorists like Lakhvi, Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar, Sajid Mir, and Dawood Ibrahim. No other country can boast having 126 UN-designated terrorists and 27 UN-designated terrorist entities!” it added.

The frustration of Pakistan's foreign minister would be better directed at the masterminds of terrorist enterprises in his own country, who have made terrorism a part of their state policy, the statement alleged, adding that Pakistan must reform its own mindset or stay a pariah state.​​​​​​​