NEW DELHI: Former Pakistani minister Fawad Chaudhry has ignited a controversy with his recent remarks, expressing concern over the potential reelection of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Chaudhry, who had previously admitted to Pakistan’s involvement in the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, voiced his support for the INDIA Bloc to win the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections in 2024.
In an exclusive interview with IANS, Chaudhry stated, “Whether it is Muslims in Kashmir or in rest of India, the kind of ideology that they are facing… the kind of atrocities that they are facing… and the other minorities that are enduring these tough situations… it is very important that Narendra Modi loses the elections. Every Pakistani wants Narendra Modi to lose.”
He further elaborated that the relationship between India and Pakistan could only improve if extremism decreased in both countries. According to Chaudhry, “There is no hatred towards India in Pakistan, but the BJP-RSS alliance in India they are stoking hatred towards Pakistan. They are stoking hatred towards Muslims and it is our responsibility that the ‘karta-dharta’ of this ideology should be defeated. I think Indian voters are not foolish. Don’t they know where their benefit lies?”
Chaudhry suggested that the Indian electorate would benefit from better relations with Pakistan and that India should progress as a nation. “The benefit of the Indian voter lies in having a good relationship with Pakistan. India should move ahead as a progressive country, and that is why Narendra Modi and his extreme ideology need to be defeated. Whoever defeats him, whether it’s Rahul Ji, Kejriwal Ji, or Mamata Banerjee, best wishes to them.”
Chaudhry’s comments follow his recent praise for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the party’s promise to conduct a wealth redistribution survey if elected. In response, PM Modi stated that the “partnership” between Pakistan and Congress had been exposed.
Chaudhry’s remarks have sparked outrage, particularly given his admission in October 2020 that Pakistan was responsible for the Pulwama attack, which claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel. He had stated in the National Assembly, “Humne Hindustan ko ghus ke maara (We hit India in their home). Our success in Pulwama, is a success of this nation under the leadership of Imran Khan. You and us are all part of that success.”
The Pulwama attack led to a significant escalation in tensions between India and Pakistan. In response to the attack, on February 26, 2019, the Indian Air Force conducted airstrikes on Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorist camps in Balakot, located in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. This marked a critical moment in the fraught relationship between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
