While addressing a joint news conference with US defence secretary Ashton Carter, Manohar Parrikar alleged that the “forces from across the border” are trying to spread violence in the Valley. Launching a veiled attack on Pakistan for the present unrest in the Jammu and Kashmir, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said that a “small percentage” of population instigated by Pakistan is holding the “majority at ransom” in the Valley.

“As far as Kashmir is concerned, I think the government of India has been very proactive. A few small percentage is holding the majority to ransom,” he said.

“Kashmir actually has a government which is democratically elected and the Chief Minister belongs to the Valley,” he said.

“As far as Kashmir is concerned, the Indian government has been very proactive in handling the violence which comes from across the border” Parrikar told Pentagon reporters.

“India and the US are fellow democracies. However the US has showed that there can be no compromise when we are faced with terrorism. The forces that seek to undermine our progress and our ways of life requires a comprehensive, robust response,” he said.

“We appreciate the support from the US in our efforts to eliminate terrorism in India’s neighbourhood. Secretary Carter and I agreed that countering terrorism is an important shared objective. The partnership between India and US is driven by our shared values,” he added.

He said Pakistan had no strength left for a face-to-face battle with India and that’s why it was trying to wound India through terrorism.

An all-party delegation, led by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, will be visiting Srinagar on September 4. Expressing regret and remorse over the loss of lives in the Kashmir Valley, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that any life lost in the state, whether of any youth or any security personnel, is India’s loss.

By Premji