India on Pakistan's J&K remarks after PM Modi's podcast: 'Vacate illegal occupation instead of spreading lies'

In a recent podcast with US podcaster and AI researcher Lex Fridman, Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched upon several topics including India's relationship with Pakistan

Pakistan should vacate Indian territory under its "illegal" occupation instead of "spreading lies", New Delhi said hitting out at Islamabad for its reaction to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks on Jammu and Kashmir during a podcast.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the world knows that the real issue in Jammu and Kashmir is Pakistan's "active promotion and sponsorship" of cross-border terrorism.

PM Modi during the podcast with Lex Fridman said "every attempt to foster peace with Pakistan was met with hostility and betrayal" and that he hoped that "wisdom would prevail on the leadership in Islamabad to improve bilateral ties".

On Monday, Pakistan rejected the remarks as "misleading and one-sided". "We note that Pakistan has once again made some comments about the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir," Jaiswal said. "The world knows that the real issue is Pakistan's active promotion and sponsorship of cross-border terrorism. In fact this is the biggest roadblock to peace and security in the region. Instead of spreading lies, Pakistan should vacate Indian territory under its illegal and forcible occupation," Jaiswal  said.

What did PM Modi say?

In a recent podcast with US podcaster and AI researcher Lex Fridman, Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched upon several topics including India's relationship with  Pakistan.

PM Modi told Fridman that Pakistan had been waging a proxy war against India. He expressed hope that wisdom would prevail in the leadership in Islamabad to improve bilateral ties.

"They chose not to foster a harmonious coexistence. Time and again, they decided to be at odds with India. They have waged a proxy war against us. Don't mistake this for ideology," he said when asked about the strained ties with Pakistan and whether he saw a path to friendship and peace.

PM Modi also recalled that he invited then-Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to attend his swearing-in ceremony in 2014 to "turn a new leaf" in the tumultuous India-Pakistan relations.

"When I invited my Pakistani counterpart to my swearing-in, it was a gesture of goodwill. It was a diplomatic gesture unlike any in decades. The very people who once questioned my approach to foreign policy were taken aback when they learnt I had invited all Saarc heads of state. Yet, every noble attempt at fostering peace was met with hostility and betrayal," he said.