Politics

Have terror attacks stopped after IAF strikes in Pakistan, asks former VHP leader Togadia

Former VHP leader Praveen Togadia has said the IAF air strikes in Pakistan’s Balakot has not yielded desired results as attacks have not stopped in Jammu and Kashmir.

Togadia added that ‘terrorist attacks have not stopped due to the “weak” leadership of Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi.’

Without naming the then Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi, the Hindutva leader praised the country’s leadership during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, which led to the creation of Bangladesh.

“My question is, have terror attacks stopped after the air strike in Balakot? After the air strike, two majors and 10 jawans had been killed (in separate incidents in J&K). There was a grenade attack in Jammu yesterday,” he said.

“If the surgery has been done, what is its importance (if the disease has not been cured)? Surgery (for me) means to get the patient rid of cancer,” Togadia, a qualified cancer surgeon said.

To a question, Togadia said what is the use of air strikes if soldiers are still dying?

“We split Pakistan in 1971, but at that time the leadership was with somebody else,” said the right wing leader.

Apparently referring to Modi, who made a surprise visit to Pakistan in 2015-end, he said, “The leadership which without invitation goes to eat the cake of (former) Prime Minister (Nawaz Sharif) is weak.”

Recently, Congress accused Modi of ‘politicizing terror’, and asked BJP to come clean on number of casualties caused due to the IAF strikes in Balakot, Pakistan.

The tensions between India and Pakistan countries have escalated following the Pulwama attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 49 CRPF personnel and which was claimed by militant outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad.

Following the attack, the Foreign Secretary of India had said on Tuesday that they have ‘struck the biggest camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Balakot in the pre-dawn ‘preemptive strikes across the Line of Control’.

ALSO READ: Better sense must prevail, we should sit down and talk: Pak PM Khan to India

“India struck the biggest camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Balakot and a large number of terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and groups of jihadis planning terror strikes were eliminated,” Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale had said.

Gokhale had added that India’s “non-military preemptive action” was specifically targeted at the Jaish-e-Mohammed camp.

“Credible intelligence was received that Jaish-e-Mohammed was attempting another suicide terror attack in various parts of the country and Fidayeen jihadis were being trained for this purpose,” he had said.

“India has given proof many times seeking action against Jaish-e-Mohammed and others at terror camps so big, that they can train hundreds of jihadis and terrorists at any given time. But due to Pakistan’s inaction, this step was necessary and had to be taken,” he had said.

Earlier, India has said that they carried out a pre-dawn strike on a ‘militant camp’ across the Line of Control soon after Pakistan army said that Indian fighter jets were forced to leave after they crossed the LoC in Muzaffarabad sector.

ALSO READ: What happened in a Budgam village when IAF aircraft crashed

According to reports, the strike was carried out at around 3:30 Tuesday morning by 12 Mirage 2000 fighter jets. The aircraft dropped, according to reports, ‘1,000 kg laser-guided bombs on a major militant camp across the Line of Control, completely destroying it’, news agency ANI reported, quoting Air Force sources.

Earlier, Pakistan Army claimed that the Indian military planes “intruded” from the Muzaffarabad sector but were forced to go back after Pakistan Air Force “immediately scrambled”.

Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan during a joint Parliament session on Thursday said that as a gesture of peace, they would return captured Indian pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan to India.

ALSO READ: Despite war hashtags and aggressive newsrooms, #SayNoToWar trends

He further stated that he was ready for talks with India and de-escalate tensions between both countries.

During the session, he said that the reason of escalation between India and Pakistan was the Kashmir dispute.

“All of this is because of Kashmir,” PM Khan said while addressing a joint session of parliament.

“I want to ask the Indian public about all that has happened over the past 4 years. There is an indigenous movement in Kashmir. At one point, Kashmiri leaders had not wanted separation, but because of Indian brutality, today all they demand is independence.”

Click to comment
To Top