Amid the strained ties with neighbouring Pakistan, Defence Minster Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday said “going to Pakistan was like going to hell”.
His statement comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi indicated tougher posturing against Pakistan and raised the issue of Balochistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir in his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort. Parrikar blamed Pakistan for encouraging terrorism from its soil.
Parrikar made the comparison between Pakistan and hell, while commenting on an infiltration bid that was foiled on Monday on Independence Day near the Line of Control in Kashmir.
At a function held in Haryana’s Rewari on Tuesday, Parrikar said there was an infiltration bid from across the border and Indian security forces sent back five Pakistani infiltrators.
“Now, going to Pakistan and going to hell is one and the same thing,” he said, drawing a thunderous applause from the audience. The defence minister said that Pakistan encourages terrorism and is now paying the price for it.