Speaking during the ALL Party Meet today, the PM said that time has come for Pakistan to answer the world on atrocities against people in PoK and Balochistan. (Source: IE)

In what could mark a clear shift in India’s foreign policy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today made it clear that India would no longer tolerate Pakistan’s interference in India’s internal affairs. If the need be, India will expose atrocities carried out by Pakistan in Balochistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) regions. Speaking during an All Party Meet today, the PM said that time has come for Pakistan to answer the world on atrocities against people in PoK and Balochistan, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said after the meet. Addressing a press conference later in which Singh was also present, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said PM Modi has suggested exposing Pakistan as a measure, if the country doesn’t stop supporting terror elements and interfering in India’s internal affairs.

PM Modi said people from PoK and Balochistan living in other countries should be contacted and asked about atrocities in their regions to expose Pakistan in front of the world community, Singh said while sharing salient points of PM’s speech at the All Party Meet.

The government informed leaders of all parties that several measures have been taken to bring normalcy back to Jammu and Kashmir. One of them is a Rs 80,000 cr package for development of the state. Singh said that a part of the package has already been forwarded to the state government and the rest would be cleared by the Finance Ministry soon.

The Central government is also conducting a massive recruitment drive for armed forces in the state to provide employment to youths of J&K. Singh said that advertisements for recruitment of SPOs have been issued while recruitment process for CRPF and 5IR Battalion has started. Jaitley said that security forces have been advised to act with utmost restraint and curfew has been relaxed in several parts of the state.

During his speech at the ALL Party Meet, the PM asserted that the Centre is ready to address grievances of all sections of people in J&K but not at the cost of India’s integrity. He said that Pakistan’s support to cross-border terrorism was the main reason behind unrest in Kashmir. During the meeting, it was also suggested that an all-party delegation be sent to J&K to assess the situation in the state. However, the government has not made any commitment on this.

(With agency inputs)