Modi marks 11 years in power with threats to Pakistan

KARACHI: In a speech marked by inflammatory rhetoric and provocative threats, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday issued a chilling warning to Pakistan, stating that to end terrorism in the country, its citizens must choose peace -- or face his “bullet”.

Speaking at a rally in Bhuj in his home state of Gujarat on the day he completed 11 years in office, Modi declared: “To end terrorism in Pakistan, the people of Pakistan need to step forward. Live peacefully and eat your bread, or else my bullet is ready”.

Touting his government’s economic achievements, Modi stated that India has “surpassed Japan” to become the world’s fourth-largest economy. The Indian prime minister chose to juxtapose this with an attack on Pakistan: “While India believes in tourism, Pakistan considers terrorism as tourism, which is very dangerous for the world. I want to ask the people of Pakistan, what have you achieved?”

Modi also claimed credit for retaliatory strikes, alleging that India “destroyed their air bases” following provocations, and further added: “On the night of May 9, when Pakistan tried to target civilians, our military retaliated with double the force…

In Dahod (Gujarat), where he inaugurated several development projects, Modi continued to spin the narrative of military might as a reflection of national pride. He celebrated Operation Sindoor’s alleged destruction of nine “terror bases” in 22 minutes as an “expression of India’s emotion”.

The Indian prime minister’s continued trying to point out what he said was Pakistan’s obsession with “enmity and hatred” -- “The sole aim of this country (Pakistan), born out of the partition, is to continue enmity with India”, Modi said.

Meanwhile, another attraction at Modi’s Gujarat roadshow was Indian Colonel Sofiya Qureshi’s family, which was showcased as a symbol of India’s military narrative.

Pakistan, meanwhile, took note of remarks by Modi delivered in Gujarat with the theatrical flourish of a campaign rally rather than the sobriety expected of the leader of a nuclear-armed state.

The spokesperson for the ministry of foreign affairs said, “The hate-driven invocation of violence in his remarks is deeply disturbing, not only for its content but for the dangerous precedent it sets in a region already burdened by volatility. We regret the continued erosion of maturity and decorum in Indian statecraft.”

The spokesperson stated, “Such statements blatantly violate the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter, which obliges member states to resolve disputes peacefully and to refrain from the threat or use of force against the sovereignty or political independence of other states.”

The spokesperson maintained, “Pakistan views these remarks as a reckless provocation, intended to distract from the ongoing human rights abuses and demographic engineering in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir.”

The spokesperson said, “Pakistan’s record as a leading contributor to UN peacekeeping and its consistent cooperation in global counter-terrorism efforts speak louder than any hostile soundbite. If extremism is indeed a concern for the Indian government, it would do well to turn inward—toward the alarming rise of majoritarianism, religious intolerance, and the systematic disenfranchisement of minorities under the increasingly brutal Hindutva ideology.”

“Pakistan remains committed to peace based on mutual respect and sovereign equality. However, any threat to its security or territorial integrity will be met with firm and proportionate measures, in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter. The international community must take serious note of India’s escalating rhetoric, which undermines regional stability and the prospects for lasting peace,” the spokesperson concluded.