'Imagined vendettas': Pakistan dismisses Indian NSA's remarks as 'unsurprising'

• Indian NSA's rhetoric reflects New Delhi's hate-mongering: Andrabi.
• Indian NSA substituting diplomacy for imagined vendettas: FO.
• "Such rhetoric hardly surprising coming from hate-mongers": FO.
  

Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday dismissed the recent remarks by India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, saying the rhetoric reflected New Delhi's hate-mongering driven by “imagined historical vendettas” rather than responsible statecraft.

The statement came in response to media queries regarding the Indian NSA's "avenging history" remarks. 

The Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that Pakistan had taken note of Doval’s comments, which were made during a public address to young delegates in India earlier this week.

He said that such rhetoric undermines responsible diplomacy and regional stability.

“We have seen the reports on remarks made by the National Security Advisor of India. Such rhetoric is hardly surprising coming from camouflaged hate-mongers, for whom imagined historical vendettas are a substitute for responsible statecraft,” Andrabi said.

The spokesperson’s comments followed Doval’s speech at the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue on January 10, where the Indian official referred to the country’s colonial past and spoke about strengthening India in various fields in order to “avenge” what he described as a painful history of attacks and subjugation. 

In his address, Doval cited the sacrifices of historical figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh, arguing that their struggles should inspire India’s future course.

Although framed as a message to young people about "national development and security", the language of “revenge” and historical redress drew attention across the region, including in Pakistan, where it was viewed as politically charged and potentially destabilising.

Doval said India must strengthen itself not only at its borders but also economically, socially and in other areas. He used the word “avenge” in reference to what he described as the country’s historical experience of attacks and subjugation, and said that this sentiment could serve as a motivating force for national development.