Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a large rally last week in his home state Gujarat, said: the people of Pakistan, especially its youth, must step forward to rid their country of “the disease of terrorism”. He added: “Live a life of peace, eat your bread or else my bullet is always an option,” thereby drawing applause from the crowd.

“The Pakistan government has taken note of the remarks by the Prime Minister of India, delivered in Gujarat with the theatrical flourish of a campaign rally rather than the sobriety expected of the leader of a nuclear-armed state,” the Foreign Office of Pakistan said in a statement issued early this week. “Such statements blatantly violate the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter, which obliges member states to resolve disputes peacefully and to refrain from the threat or use of force against the sovereignty or political independence of other states,” it added.

The statement of Modi was undoubtedly meant for the appeasement of the Indian public. The downside of the statement is the message to the world that peace between the two neighbouring countries is far away. The statesmanship of a public leader demands management of public emotions and to provide the nation a meaningful way forward for dispute resolution.........

© Business Recorder