India’s prime minister is seeking reelection and the conflict may boost his chances of returning to power.
By Joanna Slater Joanna Slater Foreign correspondent covering South Asia Email Bio Follow March 1 at 8:26 AM NEW DELHI — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke his silence Friday on the most dangerous clash between India and Pakistan in decades, saying he had begun a new era where India “will no longer be helpless in the face of terror” and casting his critics as foes of the nation.
For Modi, who is seeking reelection in polls due later this spring, the confrontation with Pakistan over the militant groups within its borders is a rare political opportunity. Earlier this month, it appeared that India’s elections would be fought on terrain not entirely favorable to Modi, with issues like youth unemployment and rural distress near the top of the agenda.
At the rally on Friday, Modi said that criticizing the Indian government’s handling of the strike was tantamount to aiding its archrival Pakistan. “The world is supporting India’s fight against terror but a few parties suspect our fight against terror,” Modi said. Such “statements are helping Pakistan and harming India … I want to ask them: do you support our armed forces or suspect them?”
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Air strike on Pakistan sparks celebrations in India, seen boosting Modi supportIndians took to the streets in celebration across the country on Tuesday after t...
Read more »
India's Modi could ease tensions with Pakistan if captured pilot returns safelyExperts say it is likely that further military escalation from India would be met with retaliation from Pakistan. While neither country wants to go into a full-blown war, both do not want to back down from the confrontation.
Read more »
Opinion | India has made its point in Pakistan. Time to let the diplomats do the hard talk.By approving airstrikes inside Pakistan, Narendra Modi was responding to the popular clamor for justice.
Read more »
India strikes Pakistan to quench public outrage over Pulwama attack'That the Indian government described it as a 'non-military pre-emptive' attack was an indication that it doesn't want to do anything to escalate the situation into a full-scale war.' Analysis | K S Dakshina Murthy
Read more »
India strikes in Pakistan as hostilities rise between nuclear powersPakistan's Prime Minister promises to retaliate after India launches airstrikes on an alleged terrorist training camp
Read more »
Does Pakistani silence on India's OIC participation show a change of heart?For the first time, India has been invited to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation summit and Pakistan has not raised any strong objections.
Read more »
US urges India, Pakistan to 'exercise restraint'India said Tuesday that it launched strikes against terror camps in Pakistan, New Delhi's first use of air strikes on its neighbour's territory since the two countries went to war in 1971.
Read more »