The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a press statement regarding the leaked WhatsApp conversation of the Indian fire-brand TV anchor Arnab Goswami. Goswami had made comments of “something big” happening a few days before the Balakot strike by India against Pakistan.
“The world community has been presented with irrefutable evidence of India’s state-sponsorship of terrorism against Pakistan and anti-Pakistan disinformation and smear campaign globally,” the statement read. “The transcripts included in the Mumbai police charge-sheet against the Republic TV anchor in the TRP case have further exposed India’s sinister designs and vindicated Pakistan’s long-held position.”
The revelation came as part of the investigation by Mumbai police into tampering into viewer ratings by Mr Goswami’s RepublicTV.
The Foreign Ministry further added, “The latest revelations further confirm what Pakistan has consistently pointed out: The BJP government stages “false flag” operations; maligns Pakistan with terrorism-related allegations; stokes hyper-nationalism in the country; claims to have launched so-called ‘surgical strike’; then deviously manipulates national sentiment in its bid to win elections. The pattern is unmistakable and has been repeated to suit the RSS-BJP regime’s electoral calculations.”
The statement termed the BJP was the biggest beneficiary of the Pulwama attack in February 2019, as it secured a landslide victory in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections due to the propaganda against Pakistan. “The transcripts provide further evidence of how this whole enterprise from ‘false flag’ operation to massive electoral success was scripted and fully realized,” the statement stated.
The statement also highlighted “the unholy nexus between the ‘Hindutva’ regime and its cronies in the Indian media.” Highlighting, on the one hand, how far and deeply the extremist agenda of the RSS-BJP combine has permeated India’s institutions and pillars of the State. On the other hand, they show how the rights and freedoms of Indian citizens and democratic values in Indian society are being seriously jeopardized through cynical manipulation. Equally important, they show how actions of this reckless regime driven by considerations of domestic politics are gravely imperilling regional peace and security, highlighted the statement.
The statement further expressed that Pakistan will “continue to counter Indian falsehoods with truth and act firmly and responsibly in the face of India’s provocations.” And expressed hope that the international community would take full cognizance of the situation and hold India accountable for its actions vitiating the regional environment and endangering peace and security in South Asia.
