On Wednesday, the military reacted strongly when the Indian army chief called Pakistan the “epicenter of terrorism,” saying that instead of trying to “evoke a non-existent terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, it would be wise not to fall into self-deception.” said a statement from Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The statement came in response to comments by Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi during a press conference on January 13, ahead of Indian Army Day, when he stated that by 2024, “60 percent of eliminated terrorists” in occupied Jammu and Kashmir were supposedly of Pakistani origin.
General Dwivedi further alleged that “80 percent of the remaining fighters in Indian-occupied Kashmir were of Pakistani origin,” according to the report. Indian Press Trust.
In a strongly worded response, the Pakistani Army said: “Insinuating Pakistan as the epicenter of terrorism by the Indian Army Chief is not only contrary to facts but also a futile exercise in defeating the dead horse of India’s default position.” : Blame Pakistan for Indigenous reaction to state-sponsored brutality. “It is a classic case of extreme duplicity.”
The statement added that the comments were made in an “attempt to divert the world’s attention from India’s brutality in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), repression of internal minorities and India’s transnational repression.”
He continued: “The General Officer, in his previous stint in llOJK, personally oversaw the most brutal repression of Kashmiris. “These fallacious and politically motivated statements reflect the extreme politicization of the Indian Army.”
The statement further mentions that the world witnessed India’s “conclave of hate speech leading to genocide against Muslims,” adding that the international community “is no stranger to India’s transnational killings and oppressive use of force by Indian security forces against innocent people.” civilians and serious human rights violations against unarmed Kashmiris.”
“Such oppression has only served to strengthen the resolve of Kashmiris for their right to self-determination, enshrined in UN Security Council Resolutions,” he said.
The statement went on to say that “instead of trying to create a non-existent terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, it would be wise not to fall into self-deception and appreciate the reality on the ground.”
Referring to the 2016 arrest of Indian spy agent Kulbhushan Jadhav in Pakistan, who confessed to fomenting terrorism in Balochistan and Karachi, the statement said: “The sobering fact that a senior serving Indian military officer is in Pakistani custody, caught with Red-handed while orchestrating acts of terrorism against innocent civilians inside Pakistan appears to have been conveniently ignored by the General.
“Pakistan strongly opposes such baseless and baseless statements,” the ISPR said.
The statement concluded by saying that Pakistan “empathized with the victims of the Indian Army’s brutality.”
“Civility, professionalism and inter-state norms of behavior are expected to guide the conduct of the Indian Army leadership, rather than pandering to political demands.”
“Unfounded accusations, unfounded claims”: FO
Separately, the Ministry of External Affairs also issued a statement saying that Pakistan “strongly rejected” the comments made by the Indian Defense Minister and Chief of Army Staff on January 13 and 14, 2025, respectively.
He stressed that Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir remained an “internationally recognized disputed territory, the final status of which must be determined in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the aspirations of the people of Kashmir.” ”.
“In this context, India has no legal or moral grounds to assert fictitious claims over the territories of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan,” the FO said.
He further said: “Such rhetoric by the Indian leadership cannot divert international attention from the grave human rights violations and oppressive measures being carried out in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” noting that their action “suppresses the legitimate and just struggle of Kashmiris.” people for their inalienable right to self-determination.”
“Pakistan also underlines that provocative statements of this nature are counterproductive to regional peace and stability,” the FO statement said.
He went on to highlight the issue of extraterritorial killings, including in Pakistan, which, according to multiple international media reports, have been carried out by the Indian government.
“Instead of leveling baseless allegations against others, India must introspect and address its own documented involvement in orchestrating targeted killings, acts of subversion and state-sponsored terrorism in foreign territories,” the FO said.
General Dwivedi, the new head of the Indian army
General Upendra Dwivedi officially took charge as the new chief of the Indian Army on June 30, 2024. General Dwivedi was commissioned in the Jammu and Kashmir Rifle Regiment in 1984, according to the Deccan Chronicle.
His command appointments include leading the 18 Regiment of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, 26 Brigade of Assam Sector Rifles and serving as Inspector General of Assam Rifles (East) and 9 Corps of the Indian Army.
He also served as Commander of the Northern Army for the Indian Army, where he supervised the Indian Army Corps in occupied Kashmir and the Chinese border, provided strategic guidance for operations along the northern and western borders and played an important role in ongoing negotiations with China to resolve border issues.
