Pakistan slams Indian defence minister’s ‘delusional’ remarks about Sindh

Pakistan has strongly condemned Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s “delusional and dangerously revisionist” remarks regarding Sindh province.

In a statement, the Foreign Office said such statements reveal an “expansionist Hindutva mindset that seeks to challenge established realities and stands in clear violation of international law, the inviolability of recognized borders, and the sovereignty of states”.

The Foreign Office said Pakistan urges Rajnath Singh and other Indian leaders to refrain from provocative rhetoric that threatens regional peace and stability.

“It will be far more constructive for India to focus on ensuring the security of its own citizens particularly vulnerable minority communities and address discrimination rooted in faith-based prejudice and historical distortions,” the statement said.

It added that India should address the “persistent grievances of the peoples in its northeast, facing systematic marginalization, identity-based persecution, and cycles of state-enabled violence”.

It called on India to take credible steps towards the genuine resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and aspirations of the Kashmiri people under occupation.

The Foreign Office reiterated that Pakistan remains committed to peaceful resolution of all disputes with India on the basis of justice, equity and established international legal norms while at the same time it is resolutely determined to safeguard its security, national independence and sovereignty.

According to Indian media, Singh made the remarks at Sindhi Samaj Sammelan, an event of the Sindhi community in New Delhi, saying: “Today, the land of Sindh may not be a part of India, but civilisationally, Sindh will always be a part of India. And as far as land is concerned, borders can change. Who knows, tomorrow Sindh may return to India again.”

Singh maintained that Sindhi Hindus from his generation never fully accepted the accession of the province to Pakistan.

This is the third time in the past two months that the minister has spoken about the possibility of Pakistan’s borders with India being redrawn.