During an election rally in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and portrayed himself as the “brand ambassador” of Kashmiris on all international forums on Saturday.
Addressing the first election-related public meeting at PoK’s Bagh area, Dawn reported that Khan claimed that the “BJP and RSS ideology posed the biggest threat to India itself because it (ideology) did not target the Muslims alone, but also the Sikhs, Christians and scheduled castes, whom it did not consider as equal citizens.” He even criticised PM Modi government’s decision to abrogate Article 370, claiming “atrocities” intensified in Kashmir after 5 Aug 2019. Khan further claimed to be the “brand ambassador of Kashmiris” on all international forums, and said, “Pakistan stands with the Kashmiris in their just struggle.”
Quoting from the Quran, Pakistan PM said that he would keep on taking up the case of Kashmiris across the globe as their “ambassador and advocate”.
This speech comes amid upcoming elections in PoK scheduled on 25 July. Amid mounting loans and poor economic record, Khan during his speech lauded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) economic models and “humanity first” approach adopted by China.
This attack on PM Modi and India comes a few days after Khan had evaded questions on Pakistan’s role concerning the Taliban’s actions in Afghanistan and sought to put blame on “RSS ideology” for the talks stalled with India amid concerns over its support to cross-border terrorism.
Khan, who was in Tashkent to attend the Central-South Asian conference, was asked by ANI on the sidelines of the event if talks and terror can go together. “I can tell India that we are waiting for long that we live like civilised neighbours. But what can we do? The ideology of RSS has come in the way,” Khan told ANI.
Khan did not take further questions even as a query was sought to be put to him about the relationship concerning the Taliban and Pakistan in the context of developments in Afghanistan.