New Delhi:
Pakistani Information and Broadcast Minister Ataullah Tarar experienced an awkward moment on live television when Sky News journalist Yalda Hakim cited Pakistan’s history of supporting terrorist organizations. This incident occurred shortly after the Indian military conducted operations against a terrorist camp in Kashmir.
During his interview, Tarar claimed that the Indian military targeted civilian areas. Hakim, however, countered his argument effectively.
“The Indian military states they specifically targeted terrorist camps, not military facilities in Pakistan,” Hakim pointed out. India reportedly launched missile strikes on nine terrorist locations, including bases linked to Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Tarar attempted to refute these claims by stating, “Pakistan has no terrorist camps. We are victims of terrorism ourselves and have lost 90,000 lives in this ongoing battle.”
Furthermore, he criticized India for its lack of condemnation regarding the hijacking of the Jafar Express. In response, Hakim reminded him of Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif’s earlier admission of supporting terrorist activities over the years.
Hakim emphasized, “Just a week ago, your Defense Minister acknowledged that Pakistan has historically backed terrorist groups in its operations against India.”
In response to Tarar’s assertions, she noted the contradictions with past statements from Pakistani leaders like General Pervez Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto.
Tarar insisted that Pakistan has been a key player in combating terrorism since 9/11 and presented the country as a buffer between the world and terrorism. He even extended an invitation for Hakim to visit Pakistan.
Hakim reminded him that Osama bin Laden was located in Abbottabad, Pakistan, which she had directly encountered during her previous visit.
Meanwhile, India affirmed its stance on thwarting cross-border attacks and advocated for action against terrorist infrastructure, emphasizing responsible and proportional responses.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri underscored the necessity to hold those responsible for recent terrorist acts accountable, reiterating that the situation should be understood in this broader context.
