• Source:JND
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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in a stern message to Pakistan said, "If acts of terrorism happen, there will be consequences", noting how India has evolved in the past decades but the neighbouring country is still stuck with their "terrorism industry". "India has changed, I wish I could say Pakistan has changed. Unfortunately, they continue to develop bad habits in many ways," Jaishankar said.

Speaking during an interactive session with students at Charotar University of Science and Technology (CHARUSAT) in Gujarat, he underscored that the Mumbai attack in 2008 was the turning point for Indians as they realised the true nature of their neighbour. In staunch words, the minister emphassised that if acts of terrorism happens from the Pakistani side, there will be consequences.

"When I look back, I would say the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks were a turning point. Indians collectively realised that such behaviour from a neighbour could no longer be tolerated. That feeling was very strong, and it may not have been completely understood by the government at the time. However, after the government changed, this message has been very firm with Pakistan that if acts of terrorism happen, there will be consequences," he said.

'Motivated and baseless': India trashes Pakistan's criticism of Waqf Amendment Act

Notably, the comments from the minister came on the same day when New Delhi strongly rejected Pakistan's criticism of the Waqf Amendment Act and said Islamabad should look into its own "abysmal" record in protecting the rights of minorities instead of preaching to others. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described Pakistan's comments on the law as "motivated and baseless", asserting that the neighbouring country has no locus standi to comment on a matter that is internal to India.

New Delhi's reaction came after a spokesperson of the Pakistan Foreign Office alleged that the Waqf law is an "infringement" over the religious and economic rights of Indian Muslims. "We strongly reject the motivated and baseless comments made by Pakistan on the Waqf Amendment Act enacted by the Parliament of India," Jaiswal said.

The MEA spokesperson was responding to media queries regarding comments made by Pakistan on the law. "Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on a matter that is internal to India," he said. "Pakistan would do better to look at its own abysmal record when it comes to protecting the rights of minorities, instead of preaching to others," Jaiswal added.

The Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson reportedly called the Waqf Amendment Act as an attempt to "dispossess" Muslims from their properties including mosques and shrines. "We strongly believe it is an infringement over the religious and economic rights of Indian Muslims," the official alleged reportedly on Thursday. There are serious apprehensions that it (the law) will contribute to "further marginalisation" of Indian Muslims, the Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson added.

(With inputs from agency)

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