 "MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. ANI")
India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal sparked a strong response on Monday after making a sharp comment on Pakistan’s political situation, saying that “democracy and Pakistan don’t go together.” He made the remark during the ministry’s weekly briefing while responding to a question about the worsening democratic environment in Pakistan, including the treatment of former prime minister Imran Khan and the unrest in the country.
Jaiswal said India continues to keep a close watch on developments across the border but declined to go into detail. “We monitor everything happening in Pakistan… Democracy and Pakistan don’t go together, so it’s best not to say more,” he said.
Responding to a different question about recent clashes at the Pakistan–Afghanistan border, Jaiswal said India was concerned about reports of Afghan civilian casualties. “We have seen reports of border clashes in which several Afghan civilians have been killed. We condemn such attacks on innocent Afghan people. India strongly supports the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Afghanistan,” he said. At least five people were killed after heavy gunfire between Pakistani and Afghan forces on Friday, according to Reuters, further straining ties after peace talks collapsed last week.
Jaiswal’s remarks came amid rising political turmoil in Pakistan. Earlier, Pakistan’s military issued a rare, direct criticism of Imran Khan. Military spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, without naming him, referred to the jailed former prime minister as a “mentally ill” narcissist, as reported by the Associated Press. This followed Khan’s post on X, where he called Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir a “mentally unstable individual,” blaming him for undermining Pakistan’s constitutional order.
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View AllKhan, 73, has been in prison since 2023 after a corruption conviction and continues to face multiple cases. His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has repeatedly demanded regular access for his family and supporters amid ongoing speculation about his health and recurring false rumours of his death. Last week, authorities at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi allowed his sister, Uzma Khanum, to meet him, according to Dawn. PTI workers also held protests outside the Islamabad High Court and the jail, criticising restrictions on visits and calling for more transparency about Khan’s condition.