Islamabad: Pakistan on Sunday strongly rejected what it described as “highly inflammatory, baseless and irresponsible” remarks by Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar regarding the Pakistan Army, calling them part of a politically motivated narrative aimed at defaming the country’s state institutions.
According to Indian media reports, Jaishankar claimed that many of New Delhi’s problems with Islamabad “emanate from the Pakistan Army” and alleged that “ideological hostility toward India comes from the Pakistan Army” during an interview with NDTV.
In a sharply worded response, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said Pakistan remained a responsible state and that its national institutions, including the armed forces, remained committed to safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“Pakistan is a responsible state, and all state institutions — including the armed forces — serve as a pillar of national security, dedicated to protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country,” he said.
Andrabi said the May 2025 conflict demonstrated the professionalism and restraint of Pakistan’s military in responding to Indian actions.
“The May 2025 conflict vividly demonstrated the armed forces’ professionalism and their resolve to defend the motherland and the people of Pakistan in a befitting, effective and responsible manner. No amount of propaganda can obscure this reality,” the statement said.
He further alleged that efforts by Indian leadership to target Pakistan’s institutions were part of a broader propaganda campaign designed to divert attention from India’s alleged destabilising actions in the region and claims of state-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan.
“Such incendiary rhetoric only reflects India’s disregard for regional peace, stability and good neighbourly relations,” the spokesperson said.
Despite the sharp exchange, Andrabi reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to peaceful coexistence, dialogue and diplomacy, while stressing that the country remained fully prepared to defend its sovereignty and national interests.
