'Instead of spreading lies, vacate Indian territory': MEA slams Pakistan for calling PM Modi's remark 'misleading'

Hitting out at Islamabad for its reaction to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on Jammu and Kashmir during a podcast, New Delhi said that Pakistan should vacate Indian territory under its “illegal” occupation instead of “spreading lies.” The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal,  said on Tuesday that the world knows the real issue in Jammu and Kashmir is Pakistan’s “active promotion and sponsorship” of cross-border terrorism.

During the podcast with Lex Fridman, PM Modi said that “every attempt to foster peace with Pakistan was met with hostility and betrayal” and that he hoped that “wisdom would prevail on the leadership in Islamabad to improve bilateral ties”.

Pakistan on Monday rejected the remarks and called them “misleading and one-sided”. According to Hindustan Times quoting PTI, Pakistan alleged that India was involved in fomenting trouble on Pakistani soil and carrying out "state-sanctioned oppression" in Jammu and Kashmir. It also accused India of "orchestrating targeted assassinations, subversion and terrorism in foreign territories," reports news agency PTI.