Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has issued a stern warning, cautioning the world against the perilous implications concealed behind the cloak of Hindutva, or Hindu nationalism, politics. These remarks were made in response to Canada’s recent accusations against India regarding the murder of Sikh separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
In an unprecedented escalation of tensions earlier this week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asserted that Ottawa was actively pursuing credible allegations that implicated Indian government agents in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia in June. This incident has further strained the already fragile relations between the two nations, primarily due to the lingering issue of Sikh separatism. Notably, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has vehemently denied any involvement in the alleged murder.
Just a day prior, PM Kakar had expressed deep concern about the rising wave of Hindutva, emphasizing its global implications, including its resonance in the United States. During his address at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, he drew a connection between Modi’s brand of Hindu nationalism and Canada’s allegations against India.
PM Kakar underlined that these proponents of Hindutva are becoming increasingly emboldened, extending their influence beyond their immediate region. He characterized the unfortunate killing of the Sikh leader as a manifestation of this ominous trend.
In an interview conducted in New York ahead of his address at the United Nations General Assembly, PM Kakar declared, “We will raise this issue at various international forums, not with the intent of propagating against India, but to unveil the disconcerting reality veiled behind Hindutva’s political agenda, deeply entrenched with fascism and chauvinism. It is an immensely perilous phenomenon capable of ensnaring not only our region but the entire world in the flames of war.”
Furthermore, PM Kakar stressed that Hindutva politics has cast a shadow over the region, notably impacting Balochistan. Pakistan possesses substantial evidence to substantiate its claims, including the confession of high-ranking Indian military officer Kulbhushan Jadhav.
“We have long borne the brunt of this facet of India’s policies, but the issue now extends to Western capitals,” PM Kakar remarked. He affirmed Pakistan’s commitment to raising awareness rather than deriding Western nations for their perceived inaction, urging collective action to thwart the dangers posed by Hindutva.
The Prime Minister mourned the loss of the Sikh separatist leader, describing him as “innocent” and a “martyr.” He condemned the murder of an innocent individual as a “heinous crime” and decried India’s role in extinguishing humanity on Canadian soil, an act he asserted could not be condemned strongly enough.
In response to inquiries about Pakistan’s international stance on the surge in militancy and its expectations from the global community, PM Kakar expressed Pakistan’s self-sufficiency in dealing with terrorism. He emphasized Pakistan’s successful efforts in safeguarding its state structure against the challenges posed by counterterrorism operations.
Furthermore, PM Kakar highlighted Pakistan’s close coordination and transparent communication with neighboring countries concerning the escalating terrorism concerns, emphasizing that the entire region shares apprehensions regarding this issue.
