ISLAMABAD – Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, a PTI MNA, said that the leadership inPakistan will see a change in statements from India after his meeting withIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj onSaturday.
“I told them that I came to India with a message of peace,” Mr. Vankwanisaid. “Modi ji was very excited to see me.”
The PTI MNA is currently in India on a religious visit. The Pakistanilawmaker’s visit to Delhi comes a few days after a suicide bomber rammed anexplosives-laden vehicle into an Indian convoy in Pulwama inIndian-administered Kashmir, killing over 40 soldiers.
The attack was reportedly claimed by outlawed Jaish-e-Mohammad, a militantgroup led by Maulana Masood Azhar.
Tensions between the two countries are rising as leaders from both sidesmade highly opinionated statements.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has authorized the armed forces to “responddecisively and comprehensively to any aggression or misadventure by India”.
The government of Punjab has taken control of Jaish-e-Muhammad’sheadquarters in Bahawalpur. According to a source in the Punjab government,the order to take over Subhanallah mosque and its seminary came directlyfrom the National Security Committee.
“I assured Sushma Swaraj and Narendra Modi that Pakistan won’t allow use ofits soil against India,” Mr Vankwani said. “We need to build confidencebetween the two nations.”
I have told them that the Pakistan government and institutions were notinvolved in the Pulwama attack, the PTI lawmaker said.
“Pakistan is taking action against all the outlawed organizations,” Mr.Vankwani added. “I told them that I am coming to meet you after‘Ganga-ashnan’ and I won’t lie to you; we will not allow anyone to conspireagainst you from our dharti (land).”