Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has criticized the Indian government for extending hospitality to Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari while Indian soldiers were being killed. Kejriwal made the statement in response to an attack by terrorists in the Kandi area of Jammu and Kashmir, in which five army personnel were killed and one was injured.
Bhutto Zardari is in India to attend the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Goa. While there was no bilateral meeting between Bhutto Zardari and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Kejriwal still saw the move as insensitive to the sacrifices of Indian soldiers.
Kejriwal’s statement was echoed by AAP MP Sanjay Singh, who criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for organizing a tour of Goa for Bhutto Zardari on the same day that soldiers were fighting terrorists. Singh said that Modi’s followers were in shock, and paid tribute to the brave soldiers who lost their lives in the attack.
Jaishankar also had strong words for Bhutto Zardari, calling him a “promoter, justifier and a spokesperson” for the terrorism industry. He said that Bhutto Zardari’s position on terrorism was called out at the SCO meeting, and that Pakistan’s credibility in dealing with the issue was decreasing rapidly.
While there is no doubt that the attack in Jammu and Kashmir was a tragedy, it is important to note that hosting foreign officials is a common practice in international diplomacy. It is also important to remember that India and Pakistan have a complex and often troubled relationship, and that diplomacy can sometimes be a necessary tool for improving that relationship.
However, the timing of Bhutto Zardari’s visit to India could be seen as insensitive, given the recent attack and the ongoing tensions between the two countries. It is up to each individual to decide whether they feel that hosting Bhutto Zardari was an appropriate move or not.