Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has warned Pakistan that India will punish its neighbor if there are future attacks on India, marking 78 years of independence from British colonial rule. Modi addressed the country from New Delhi’s Red Fort, saying India has established a “new normal” that does not differentiate between “terrorists” and those who support terrorism.
Modi vowed to not tolerate nuclear threats from Pakistan, which had been previously described as “nuclear blackmail.” However, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the creation of a new Army Rocket Force Command to bolster his country’s defense capabilities.
The two countries have a complex history, with India and Pakistan emerging from the partition of British India in 1947. The process led to one of the largest human migrations in history and hundreds of thousands of deaths.
India and Pakistan exchanged military strikes in May after an April massacre by gunmen in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed 26 people. Pakistan denied responsibility for the attack but claimed it shot down six Indian aircraft during clashes. India acknowledged some losses but did not provide details.
Modi also hinted at continuing India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, which allows sharing of the Indus River that runs through South Asia and is a lifeline for both countries. The treaty had been suspended after an April massacre.
The US had previously imposed tariffs on India, including a 25% penalty on agricultural products, but Modi stated he would not compromise on the agriculture sector.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/india-independence-day-modi-pakistan-attacks-indus-5e102414e42bb122c1566d0d70d5ec52