Pakistan can seek our help if it can't fight terror, we'll sort it out: Defence minister Rajnath Singh

BHOPAL: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday offered Pakistan 'help' in countering terrorists on its soil. "If Pakistan cannot take care of terrorists operating from its soil, they should approach us for help. We will sort it out for them," Singh told ANI.

Singh's remark comes in the wake of an interview to a TV channel where he did not scotch a report in 'The Guardian' that alleged India's role in a spate of targeted killing of terrorists in Pakistan who were on Delhi's 'wanted' list.

Later on Thursday, while addressing BJP rallies in Madhya Pradesh's Satna and Rewa, Singh recalled how the Modi govt scrapped Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir "in the blink of an eye". "Jammu & Kashmir is buzzing with development today. Those living in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) now feel that if anyone can improve their lives, it's India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi," the defence minister said.

"The people of POK might want it to merge with India. As far as POK is concerned, it was, is and will be ours," Singh asserted.

He said that India's global standing has gone up during PM Modi's tenure. "The Russia-Ukraine war was paused on the intervention of PM Modi for the safe exit of Indian students," he said. Singh also recalled how, on PM Modi's request, eight former Indian Navy officers, who were awarded death sentences by a court in Qatar, were set free.

Singh said the perception of other countries towards India has changed. "In another 25 to 30 years, India will become a superpower," he said, adding "US ambassador Eric Garcetti has said that if any country wants to explore possibilities for the future, it can come to India. Now the whole world has the same view towards India."

He asserted that BJP does not discriminate between religions and cited the ban on triple talaq to say the party upholds the dignity of women and said, "By abolishing triple talaq, the govt has given equal rights to all women of the country. Whether BJP remains in power or not, humiliation of women will not be allowed on Indian soil."

"People say BJP always talks of Hindus and Muslims. I want to say that we do not discriminate between Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Jews. We believe in taking everyone along," Singh said, adding: "We believe everyone born in Bharat is a child of Bharat Mata."


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